Department of English PARAGRAPH WRITING

Faculty of Arts and Humanities - Dhar El Mahraz SEMESTER 1

Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University Profs. BOUHOUT & CHEMLAL
Fez, Morocco.

THE CONCLUDING SENTENCE:

LESSON
Introduction
A concluding sentence brings the paragraph to a logical ending. It creates a feeling
of closure. Sometimes, however, a paragraph does not need a conclusion.
 A paragraph that is part of a longer piece of writing generally does not require
a concluding sentence.
 Many paragraphs of narration, for example, do not need a concluding
sentence.
Types of concluding sentences
1. Restating the topic idea: This type of concluding sentence, which is usually the
easiest to write, restates the main idea of the paragraph, using different words.
2. Making a prediction: This type of concluding sentence, often used in how-to
paragraphs, connects the topic of the paragraph to something in the future.
3. Creating closure in other ways: A concluding sentence can create a feeling of
closure without restating the topic idea or making a prediction. A sentence of
this type has two features:
 it has a logical connection to the main idea of the paragraph;
 it does not give the reader the impression that it is a supporting sentence.
A concluding sentence serves two purposes:
1. It signals the end of the paragraph.
2. It leaves the reader with the most important ideas to remember.
It can do this in two ways:
a. By summarizing the main points of the paragraph.
b. By repeating the topic sentence in different words.
End of paragraph signals followed by a comma
Finally, in brief, in conclusion, indeed, in short, lastly, therefore, thus, to sum up, to
summarise, in summary, clearly….
End of paragraph signals not followed by a comma
The evidence suggests that there can be no doubt that, for all these reasons, these
examples show that, we can see that…..
Example 1: Concluding a paragraph of description
The Ouzoud cascades are one of the most impressive natural sites in the Middle

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Atlas. All around the water is an almost permanent rainbow. The water plunges
dramatically over one hundred meters into a limestone pool. This pool which is large
enough for visitors to swim in, is surrounded by many trees those green leaves
contrast with the sparkling water and blue sky.
Concluding sentence 1: restating the main topic
The Ouzoud cascades are truly an exciting and dramatic place.
Concluding sentence 2: making a prediction
Such a beautiful spot is likely to continue to impress visitors who are fortunate enough to visit it.
Concluding sentence 3: creating closure in other ways:
1. Moroccan can be proud of this dramatically beautiful spot.
2. Without doubt, this impressive spot is worth visiting.
Example 2: Concluding a paragraph of a process
It is easy to brew a good cup of tea. First, put some dried green tea and pieces of
sugar into a teapot. The amount of tea and sugar will depend on the size of the pot
and the preference of those drinking the tea. Then add hot water and boil the mixture
over the fire for a few seconds. After that, add mint leaves that have been rinsed in
water and removed from the hard stem. Finally, return the teapot to the fire until the
liquid turns deep liquid.
Concluding sentence1: restating the main idea
You can see that it is not difficult to make a cup of tea.
Concluding sentence 2: making a prediction
If you follow these easy directions, you and your guests will enjoy a fine cup of tea.
Concluding sentence 3: creating closure in another way
It’s great that such a simple process can bring so much pleasure.

THE CONCLUDING SENTENCE:

PRACTICE

Exercise 1: Read the following paragraph and notice how it is concluded.

Parents can help their children succeed in school by getting involved in their
studies. They should get to know their children’s teachers by attending school
activities as often as possible. They should also talk about what their children are
learning in school. Another good idea is to look over children’s homework before
they hand it in, and help them with any questions or problems. In short, by doing
these relatively simple things, parents can make a huge difference.

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Exercise 2: For each of the following paragraphs, choose the correct concluding sentence.
Morning walk is a simple but excellent exercise. It enhances the flow of
oxygen in the blood and relieves us of a lot of stress. It helps us to get rid of
laziness and also induces good sleep at night. Another additional benefit is that the
morning walk exposes us to fresh air, which keeps us in touch with nature.
1. Thus, the morning walk does a lot of good for us.
2. Morning walk helps relieve stress.
Play is usually associated with children. Many people consider it to be a waste
of time and as something unproductive. In fact, in the early years of one’s life, play
plays an important role in the process of learning. Children should be provided
with opportunities to play.
1. Children who play grow up to be intelligent.
2. For children, play is another way to observe, participate and learn.
Exercise 3: For each of the following paragraphs, write at least two concluding sentences. Label
each sentence that you write, stating whether it is a restatement of the main idea, a
prediction, or another way to create closure.

Paragraph 1:
Domestic tasks include three distressing jobs for me. One chore I dislike is
going to the laundry shops because there are never enough driers of hot water.
Preparing meals is another duty that makes me cringe. I spend hours following
recipes only to burn the entire dish. Third, I dread the job of grocery shopping. I
spend as much time in the long lines as I do choose all the items on my list.
1. …………………………………………………………………………………..
2. ………………………………………………………………………………….
Paragraph 2:
Kids who grow up in a bicultural family have a lot of advantages. For one
thing, they are able to learn a second language with almost no effort at all, and they
will have a perfect accent when they speak. They will also have contact with two
different countries and might travel internationally when they are very young. But,
the most important advantage is that they become more open to other cultures and
other ways of doing things.
1. …………………………………………………………………………………..
2. ………………………………………………………………………………….