Writing an effective conclusion for a Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) English composition is as important as crafting an engaging introduction and a robust body. The conclusion wraps up the essay, tying all the threads of the narrative together, and provides closure to the reader. It leaves a lasting impression on the examiner and can significantly impact the score of a student in the PSLE English exam. This article aims to guide students on how to write a compelling conclusion that can enhance the overall quality of their compositions.
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Firstly, it is crucial to understand the role of a conclusion in an essay. It serves three primary purposes – summarising the main points or arguments presented, offering a resolution or an insightful comment on the topic, and leaving the reader with a memorable ending.
| Strategy | Description |
|---|---|
| Understanding the Role of Conclusion | The conclusion serves three primary purposes: summarising the main points, offering a resolution, and leaving a memorable ending. |
| Summarising the Main Points | Recap the main points of the essay in the conclusion, but avoid merely repeating the exact words used in the introduction or body. Instead, synthesise the information by presenting it in a new light. |
| Offering a Resolution | Provide a resolution to the issues or conflicts raised in the composition. This could involve resolving the main conflict of the story or restating the student’s position on the issue. |
| Leaving a Memorable Ending | End the conclusion with an impactful final sentence that resonates emotionally with the reader or provokes further thought. This could be a thought-provoking statement, a vivid image, a quote, or a call to action. |
| Planning the Conclusion | Think about the conclusion when brainstorming and structuring the essay to ensure that it aligns with the rest of the essay and effectively wraps up the narrative. |
| Using the ‘Circle Back’ Technique | Introduce a concept, image, or phrase in the introduction and bring it back in the conclusion. This creates a sense of closure and unity in the essay. |
| Considering the ‘So What’ Question | Reflect on the broader implications or significance of the story, such as the moral of the story, the character’s growth, or the real-world relevance of the essay topic. |
| Striving for Clarity and Conciseness | Use clear and concise language in the conclusion to effectively communicate the message and leave a lasting impression. Avoid complex sentences or difficult vocabulary. |
| Avoiding New Information | Do not introduce new information or arguments in the conclusion as it can confuse the reader and disrupt the flow of the essay. Focus on summarising, resolving, and leaving a memorable ending. |
Summarising the Main Points: In the conclusion, the student should succinctly recap the main points or arguments of the essay. However, it’s important not to simply repeat the exact words used in the introduction or body. Instead, students should aim to synthesize the information, presenting it in a new light or from a different angle. This requires a certain degree of creativity and a good grasp of the language.
Offering a Resolution: An effective conclusion should also offer some form of resolution to the issues or conflicts raised in the composition. In narrative compositions, this could involve resolving the main conflict of the story, while in argumentative essays, this could mean restating the student’s position on the issue. In the context of PSLE English compositions, students could also link the resolution back to the moral or the lesson of the story, which is often a component of the essay prompt.
Leaving a Memorable Ending: An exceptional conclusion leaves the reader with something to think about, thereby making the essay more memorable. Students could achieve this by ending with an impactful final sentence. This could be a thought-provoking statement, a vivid image, a quote, or a call to action. The aim is to resonate emotionally with the reader or to provoke further thought.
The process of writing a conclusion begins with careful planning. Students should think about the conclusion when brainstorming and structuring their essay. This helps to ensure that the conclusion aligns with the rest of the essay and effectively wraps up the narrative.
One unique strategy students could employ is the ‘circle back’ technique. This involves introducing a concept, an image, or a phrase in the introduction and then bringing it back in the conclusion. This creates a sense of closure and unity in the essay.
Students can also consider the ‘so what’ question when writing their conclusion. This encourages them to go beyond just summarizing the story and instead reflect on its broader implications or significance. This could be the moral of the story, the character’s growth, or the real-world relevance of the essay topic.
In terms of language use, students should strive for clarity and conciseness in their conclusion. Complex sentences or difficult vocabulary can make the conclusion harder to understand and weaken its impact. On the other hand, a clear and concise conclusion effectively communicates the student’s message and leaves a lasting impression.
Finally, students should not introduce any new information or arguments in the conclusion. This could confuse the reader and disrupt the flow of the essay. Instead, they should focus on summarising, resolving, and leaving a memorable ending.
To conclude, writing an effective conclusion is a critical skill in the PSLE English composition. It requires a solid understanding of the essay content, careful planning, and thoughtful reflection. With practice, students can master this skill and improve their performance in the PSLE English exams. Moreover, the ability to write a strong conclusion is not just beneficial for the PSLE, but also for the student’s future academic and professional endeavors. As with any skill, the key lies in understanding the basics, continual practice and never giving up. So let’s fly it!
