Conclusion Sentence Starters: Essential Essay Guide

This printable writing reference sheet helps middle school students draft strong essay conclusions by providing structured transition options. Students learn to summarize arguments and restate thesis statements with clarity, improving overall writing organization. Use this resource to support independent writing and essay revision.

At a Glance

• Grade: 5-9 · Subject: Writing Organization
• Standard: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1.E — Provide a concluding statement that supports the argument presented
• Skill Focus: Essay conclusion transitions
• Format: 1 page · 14 reference starters · No answer key · PDF
• Best For: Writing workshop anchor chart
• Time: 5–10 minutes

What's Inside

This single-page PDF contains 14 carefully selected transition phrases and sentence starters designed to help students wrap up their essays. The layout features a clean, easy-to-read bulleted list that functions perfectly as a student handout, binder insert, or classroom anchor chart. The visual design includes a clear title and a supportive graphic to keep students engaged during independent writing time.

Zero-Prep Classroom Workflow

Incorporate this reference tool into your writing block with three steps:

• Print (1 minute): Photocopy the single-page PDF for each student or upload it to your digital platform.
• Distribute (1 minute): Hand out the sheet during the drafting phase of an essay assignment.
• Review (2 minutes): Briefly read through the 14 starters as a class, highlighting how different transitions fit different essay tones.

This workflow makes the resource an ideal sub plan addition or quick-reference tool.

Standards Alignment

This resource aligns directly with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1.E, which requires students to provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented. By offering concrete transition options, the worksheet helps students bridge the body of their essay to their final thoughts. Both standard codes can be copied directly into lesson plans, IEP goals, or district curriculum mapping tools.

How to Use It

Use this reference sheet during the revision stage of the writing process. After students complete their body paragraphs, introduce the sheet to guide their concluding paragraph construction. For a quick formative assessment, ask students to select three starters from the list and write three different potential concluding sentences for their current essay topic, allowing you to check their understanding of transition usage in under ten minutes.

Who It's For

This tool is designed for students in grades 5 through 9 who need scaffolding to write cohesive essays. It is particularly helpful for English language learners and struggling writers who benefit from sentence frames. Pair this reference sheet with a persuasive writing prompt or an argumentative essay rubric to provide comprehensive support during independent writing sessions.

According to writing instruction research by Fisher & Frey (2014), providing scaffolds like sentence starters helps students transition from guided instruction to independent writing. This reference sheet supports that transition by offering 14 concrete options that align with the CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1.E standard. By utilizing these structured prompts, students learn to synthesize information rather than simply repeating their thesis. The visual layout reduces cognitive load, allowing middle school writers to focus on the quality of their arguments. Educators can integrate this tool into writing workshops, knowing it aligns with evidence-based practices for developing adolescent literacy. The organization ensures that students of varying ability levels can access the curriculum and meet writing expectations. This resource serves as a reliable scaffold for building academic vocabulary, improving overall essay structure, and boosting student confidence during independent writing tasks.