Teaching How to Write Conclusion for Rhetorical Analysis in 5 Easy Steps

Why Do Students Struggle With How to End a Conclusion for An Essay? 

If you are like me, you consistently see the worst scores on the conclusion of an essay. So, I asked myself, why is that? Here are my thoughts on what makes the conclusion for an essay so difficult. First, we and our students are experiencing writing fatigue. By the time, we get to the conclusion. I have already provided feedback on each student’s body paragraph. And, my students have already written at least four paragraphs. We both tire of focusing so many days on writing and building paragraphs. So, we just let it drop away. We rush through the instructions. We give vague directions. And, we hope that will be enough. And friend, you know it’s never enough. 

Secondly, besides feeling tired about writing, we assume that students should just know. We tell them to just wrap up their thoughts. And, to add a powerful final sentence. But to most students, this means rambling in their rhetorical analysis conclusion. If you truly want students to bring their essays together, we need to teach them how. We leave out an essential part of the essay-writing process by just telling them to write. Not sure how to teach your students to write better conclusions, keep reading below. 

Where to Start with the Rhetorical Analysis Essay Writing

Before we move on, I recommend first starting with the rhetorical analysis body paragraph. Check out my blog post How To Use A Rhetorical Analysis Body Paragraph Outline to Improve Your Student’s Writing. In this blog post, I will take you step by step on how I teach rhetorical analysis writing. Even better, I show how I teach my students to use a rhetorical analysis body paragraph outline to improve their writing. 

Once your students master the rhetorical analysis body paragraph, have them write their introductions. Check out my blog post, Teaching How to Write Rhetorical Analysis Introduction for Stronger High School Writers. In this blog post, I show you the five steps I use to teach essay introduction. 

Rhetorical Analysis Conclusion Writing Workshop

Step #1: Review the Elements of a Rhetorical Analysis Conclusion 

First, we need to review the pieces that make up the conclusion. I create a triangle graphic that demonstrates the conclusion. Students start at the tip of the triangle with their restated thesis statement. Then we move into lessons that the text teaches the reader. Remind students this is not a summary of the essay but an expansion of the lessons and inferences they made. Conclusions then transition to general life lessons that relate to the reader and no longer focus on the text in any way. Finally, students leave the reader with that final epiphany.  Students struggle the most with this final sentence. Make sure to take time to share ideas, examples, and expectations of what this last sentence should do. Tell them to pack that punch in their final thought. 

Step #2: Examine a Rhetorical Analysis Conclusion Example

Now that students know what goes into a conclusion, I like to show my students an example. By looking at a conclusion for rhetorical analysis, students can see the elements in action. I have students mark up the conclusion and identify the main elements. Then, we review the answers and determine why this conclusion example is so strong. 

By giving students an exemplary rhetorical analysis conclusion paragraph, students know your expectations. One thing that helps students is to show them the difference between the original thesis statement and the restated thesis statement. Students always struggle with not just copying and pasting the thesis word for word. By providing this strong example, students’ conclusions improve. 

Don’t want to write your rhetorical analysis conclusion example? Check out my Rhetorical Analysis Conclusion Example In this resource, I provide you with an example conclusion paragraph and an answer key. And that’s just one of the many handouts that will help improve your students’ writing included in this resource. 

Step #3: Complete The Rhetorical Analysis Introduction Outline

Students have all the pieces that they need to write their rhetorical analysis conclusion. The best way to have students build their conclusion is to use a rhetorical analysis outline. Here are the parts of the outline that I use with my students: 

• Restated Thesis Statement: What is the main claim of your essay without repeating it word for word? How did the author effectively convince their audience of their argument?
• Effectiveness of the Argument: To what extent was the argument effective? 
• Call to Action Implications: What will happen if the audience heeds the author’s call to action? What happens if they do not? 
• Final Thought: What is the life lesson or challenge you want to leave the reader of this essay with? 

For each part of the outline, I provide a prompting question and space to write their answer.

Students now have all the skills that they need to complete their rhetorical analysis conclusion outline. Allow students ample time to complete the outline. They need time to think struggle and work through their ideas. This writing does not come naturally for most students so they need time to process. 

Looking for a conclusion outline you can use with your students right away? Check out my Rhetorical Analysis Conclusion Outline. In this print or digital resource, students are given prompts for each part of the conclusion with prompting questions and space to write. 

Step #4: Build the Rhetorical Analysis Conclusion Paragraph

Once students have completed their outlines, they are ready to build their paragraphs. I have students refer back to the outline of the elements that go into a conclusion paragraph. Using this handout as a guide, students take each section of their outline and create a paragraph. If they followed the outline carefully, they just need to copy and paste each section sentence by sentence. The last step is to reread the now completed paragraph. Students should make sure that the paragraph flows. Then, they should check for all formatting errors. Finally, students should fix any grammatical and spelling errors. 

Step #5: Teach How to Write Works Cited Page MLA Format 

Before students are ready to turn in their conclusion for rhetorical analysis essay, they need to add their works cited to their essay. I recommend using the online version of Google Docs because they have a built-in citation tool that will do all the work for your students. 

Google Docs Works Cited Steps: 

1. Click on “Tools” and “Citations” and a sidebar will appear
2. MLA (8th ed.) will be preselected. Click “Add citation source”
3. Change the source type to the correct source. Most of our sources are “Website”. And change “Accessed By” to the proper format. Most of our sources are “Website”. For websites, we just paste in the URL. For books, it’s the ISBN. Click “Search”. 
4. Confirm that the information showing is correct and click “Continue”
5. Click “Add Citation Source” and the new works cited source appears. 
6. Add any other citation sources as needed. 
7. Place your cursor on the last page of the essay and create a page break to start a new page. Click “Insert Works Cited” and your Works Cited page is ready to go!

More Resources for Teaching The Rhetorical Analysis Essay

How To Use A Rhetorical Analysis Body Paragraph Outline to Improve Your Student’s Writing

Teaching How to Write Rhetorical Analysis Introduction for Stronger High School Writers

What is SPACE CAT?

How to Write Conclusion for Rhetorical Analysis

Building in time for a rhetorical analysis conclusion writer’s workshop is an essential part of the writer process. Your students will have a better understanding of what to write. And, you will have stronger paragraphs that will make grading so much easier. You will no longer have vague, short, choppy conclusions. If you are ready to improve your students’ writing, and you need the resources to help your students, check out my Rhetorical Analysis Conclusion Resource. You will have everything you need to get started with the rhetorical analysis conclusion right away.

 If you want more detailed lessons and resources customized just for high school ELA teachers, join my email list. Every week I will be in your inbox with easy-to-use suggestions for lessons.