How to Write an Effective Ending

Effective Ending Strategies Leave your reader with something to think about! Summarize Encourage reader reflection Leaves the reader wanting more Reveal the story’s meaning Restate the main idea

Summarize… “Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things, Some shall be pardoned, and some punished, For never was a story of more woe Than this of Juliet and her Romeo” (from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet)

Encourage reader reflection… “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” (from the film, The Diary of Anne Frank) It is not often that someone comes along who is both a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.“ (from E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web)

Leaves the reader wanting more! “…in spite of the final meeting with Voldemort he knew must come, whether in a month, in a year, or in ten, he felt his heart lift at the thought that there was still one last golden day of peace left to enjoy with Ron and Hermione.” (from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)

Reveal the story’s meaning… “Oh, but anyway, Toto, we're home! Home! And this is my room - and you're all here! And I'm not gonna leave here ever, ever again because I love you all! - And oh, Auntie Em, there's no place like home.” (Dorothy’s last line in the film, The Wizard of Oz)

Restate the main idea… “So they jazzed up the story with all of that ‘Huff and puff and blow your house down.’ And they made me the Big Bad Wolf. That’s it. The real story. I was framed.” (from Scieszka’s The True Story of the Three Little Pigs)

Your assignment… Use one of the effective ending strategies you’ve learned to write an effective conclusion to your story!