CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1d
The Standard
Provide a concluding statement or section.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students finish an opinion piece with a statement or short section that connects back to their opinion. They use the ending to wrap up their ideas rather than introduce a new reason.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students write an ending that clearly returns to their opinion and gives the piece a sense of closure. The conclusion fits the reasons already given and does not introduce unrelated ideas.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may stop after their last reason or repeat the opening word for word. They may also add a new reason in the conclusion instead of wrapping up the opinion.
How to Assess It
- Give students a short opinion paragraph with no ending. Ask them to write one concluding sentence that restates the opinion without adding a new reason.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs sentence strips from an opinion paragraph, then have them choose or write the conclusion that best completes it.
Ask students to compare two conclusions and explain which one better closes the opinion piece and why.
Play Conclusion Match by having students pair opinion cards with fitting conclusion cards, then revise any weak matches.
Read a short product review, then write a closing sentence that reminds readers of the reviewer's recommendation.
Free download
Printable W.3.1d Worksheet

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1d, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
Download the worksheetLearning progression
Where This Standard Sits
What This Unlocks
Mastery here sets students up for these next.
Keep exploring
Related Standards
Turn this exact standard into a lesson
Grade, subject, topic, and the complete standard are prefilled. Create one free, no account needed.