Conclusion Starters Worksheet | Grade 8 Printable

This printable conclusion starters worksheet helps middle school students effectively wrap up their essays and leave a lasting impression on readers. By providing a clear reference guide and progressive practice, the resource ensures students can confidently transition into their final thoughts and strengthen their overall written arguments.

At a Glance

• Grade: 8 · Subject: ELA
• Standard: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1.E — Provide a concluding statement supporting the argument.
• Skill Focus: Writing Conclusions
• Format: 3 pages · 6 problems · Answer key included · PDF
• Best For: Independent practice and essay drafting
• Time: 25–35 minutes

This comprehensive three-page resource includes a built-in reference guide featuring five sophisticated phrases for concluding paragraphs. Students will work through six targeted tasks, starting with multiple-choice context questions, moving into short-response drafting based on specific scenarios, and culminating in a full paragraph writing assignment. A complete answer key is provided to streamline grading and support peer review.

• Guided practice: Three multiple-choice questions require students to select the most appropriate transitional phrase based on the provided context.
• Supported practice: Two short-response prompts ask learners to draft a single concluding sentence using the reference guide, applying the skill to topics like social media and space exploration.
• Independent practice: One extended task challenges students to write a complete concluding paragraph for an essay about physical education, integrating at least one target phrase.

This gradual-release approach moves students smoothly from the "I Do" reference stage to the "You Do" independent application.

This resource is aligned to CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1.E, requiring students to provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented. It also supports general explanatory writing standards by emphasizing clear transitions and logical text structure. Both standard codes can be copied directly into lesson plans, IEP goals, or district curriculum mapping tools.

Deploy this worksheet during the drafting phase of an essay unit, right after direct instruction on essay structure. It serves as an excellent independent practice activity or a targeted intervention for students who struggle with abrupt endings. As a formative assessment tip, review the short-response drafting section to ensure students are accurately matching the tone of the starter phrase to the provided context before they attempt the final paragraph. Expect completion to take between 25 and 35 minutes.

This material is designed for seventh and eighth-grade general education students, but the built-in reference guide makes it highly accessible for English Language Learners and students needing additional scaffolding. Pair this activity with a completed essay draft, allowing students to immediately apply their newly practiced phrases to their own authentic writing.

Explicit instruction in transitional phrases and text structure significantly improves overall writing quality for middle-grade learners. According to Fisher & Frey (2014), providing students with targeted language frames and clear reference tools reduces cognitive load, allowing them to focus on synthesizing their arguments rather than struggling with basic sentence formulation. This resource directly supports CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1.E by helping students provide a concluding statement supporting the argument. When learners practice these skills through a gradual release model—moving from multiple-choice identification to independent paragraph drafting—they internalize the structural requirements of academic writing. By mastering these specific conclusion starters, students develop the necessary rhetorical tools to summarize evidence effectively and leave a lasting impact on their audience, ultimately leading to higher proficiency in both argumentative and explanatory composition.