Activities to Teach Students to Choose the Best Concluding Sentence
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One of the most important skills that students need to learn in writing is how to craft effective concluding sentences. The final sentence of a paragraph or essay can leave a lasting impression on the reader and tie together all of the ideas that have been presented. Here are a few activities that teachers can use to help their students choose the best concluding sentences.
1. Model and analyze
The first step in teaching students how to choose the best concluding sentence is to model and analyze effective examples. Take a paragraph or essay and read it aloud, highlighting the concluding sentence. Ask students to consider why this sentence is effective and how it relates back to the topic or thesis statement. You can also analyze ineffective concluding sentences and point out why they do not work.
2. Sorting activity
Create a set of sentences that could potentially serve as concluding sentences, with a mix of effective and ineffective options. Have students sort these sentences into two categories – effective and ineffective. Then, ask them to discuss with a partner or in small groups why they placed each sentence in its respective category.
3. Write your own
Give students a topic sentence or thesis statement and ask them to craft their own concluding sentence. Encourage them to think about the main points they have made and how to tie them together in a way that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. They can then share their sentences with the class and discuss which ones are most effective.
4. Choose the best
Provide students with a set of paragraphs or essays, each with multiple concluding sentence options. Ask them to read each option and choose the one they believe is the most effective. This allows students to practice identifying strong concluding sentences and expressing their thoughts on why they believe it is the best choice.
5. Collaborative writing
Have students work in pairs or small groups to write a paragraph or essay together. Each group member can contribute ideas and sentences, but they must work together to choose the best concluding sentence for their piece. This not only helps them practice selecting strong concluding sentences, but also encourages collaboration and teamwork.
Overall, teaching students to choose the best concluding sentence is an important skill that can have a big impact on their writing. By providing examples, engaging in sorting and writing activities, and encouraging collaboration, teachers can help their students develop this skill and become more effective writers.