"Art consists of imitation. The most beautiful part of every picture is the frame."
-G.K. Chesterton
An introduction and conclusion frame our message. The frame limits the edges of how far our writing can go, keeping our focus within its borders. The lead invites the reader on a journey, promising what is to come. The conclusion is the finishing touch that, in the end, leaves the reader satisfied or hopeful or not.
Activity one: Is there an echo in here?
Read the excerpts below. With a partner, decide what connection exists between the lead and conclusion. Then discuss:
- Why do author's often have their conclusions ECHO their leads? Why is framing writing like this an effective strategy?
- What book or movies can you think of that come full circle? (They end where they started.)
Activity two: Capture attention with a lead
Practice generating your own leads by modeling authors' examples.
Continue to pretend you are a renowned author of horror stories, and you are writing a best seller. Use these strategies to write several conclusions (just the conclusion!) for your story. |
Practice generating your own leads by modeling authors' examples.
Pretend you are a renowned author of horror stories, and you are writing a best seller. Use these strategies to write several hooks (only the hook!) for your story.
|
1. Depart with dialogue. Use the words of your characters to give your ending the perfect resonance and closure. 2. Point to the future or reflect on the past. Hint at how a text might change your reader! 3. End with a twist! A twist doesn't have to be severe. Some subtle change in an expected conclusion can make an ending fresh! 4. Come to a realization. Discover something about the world and ourselves! |