The Concluding Sentence

The Concluding Sentence

Like the beginning, a good ending is also essential for an ideal paragraph. The idea which is introduced in the topic sentence should also be brought to a close. In other words, you need a concluding sentence to conclude the main idea of the paragraph. It is also known as the terminator.

The word "terminator" itself suggests that it always comes at the end of the paragraph. Neither does it remain unstated or implied. It should be clearly stated with an end of the paragraph signal.

The concluding sentence serves its purpose in two different ways. It either repeats or restates the main idea by Paragraph raising the topic sentence or summarizes the main points made in the body of the paragraph. In either case, it should signal the end of the paragraph. Look at the first and the last sentences in the pair of paragraphs below.

a) Although some of the English words have the same basic meaning, they do not always have the same emotional meaning. For example ‘sting’ and 'frugal'. Both of these two words mean "careful with money". But if you call a man stingy, he will feel insulted. On the other hand, frugal', is used as a praising term. You should, therefore, be careful in choosing words because some so-called synonyms are not really synonymous.

b) A noun or noun phrase has four major grammatical functions. First of all, it is used as the subject in a clause and hence it generally precedes the predictor. Secondly, it can function as the object coming after a transitive verb.

  

Thirdly, it can be used as a complement after a linking verb or object. And fourthly, it can work as a competitive in a prepositional phrase. In conclusion, a noun or noun phrase is used as the subject, object and complement in a clause and the competitive in a preposition phrase.

You must have noticed that the example paragraphs above have demonstrated two different types of concluding sentences. The concluding sentence in the former paragraph has just repeated the main idea expressed in the topic sentence in different words, while that in the latter is a summary of the important points made in the body of the paragraph. However, both of the concluding sentences begin with an ending signal.

The ending signal in the concluding sentence may sometimes be expressed in such phrases and expressions as:

                               In conclusion

                               Therefore

                               So, it may be said that

                               In short

                               To sum up

                               In fine

                               In this way

                               These are the

                               In my opinion

                               In fact

and many others.

The Main Points

i) The concluding sentence is the last sentence of the paragraph.

ii) It brings the paragraph to a logical conclusion

iii) It either paraphrases the topic sentence or summarizes the main points.

iv) It contains a concluding signal.

Vocabulary Enrichment

completive - the second part of a preposition phrase, egg 'he bed' in 'on the bed'

convenient - suitable; handy

(to) demonstrate - show clearly by giving proofs or examples,

emotional - related to feelings

implied  not definitely stated

(to) paraphrase— give the meaning of a piece of writing in other words in the same language

(to) precede— come or go before

predicator — the finite verb or verb phrase in a clause

synonym — word with the same meaning as another in the same language

EXERCISES

1. Read the following paragraph which does not have a concluding sentence. Choose one concluding sentence from the group below to fit into the paragraph:

According to Words worth, the act of poetic creation takes place through four different stage s. First of all, the poet perceives the object which Produces a powerful emotion. Then he recollects that emotion at some other time. After that, he revives the original emotion through contemplation. And finally, he communicates his

Emotion to the readers.—

        a) We can, therefore, say that Wordsworth introduced a new theory of poetic criticism.

        b) Wordsworth believed in this quadruple process of poetic creation.

        c) Writing poetry is really a long process.

2. Read the in complete paragraph below and complete it with a concluding sentence: People prefer to travel by air mainly for three reasons. In the very first place, it is really exciting for man to fly high in the sky. Their second consideration is that the aero planes have an astonishing speed. Only in a few hours they can even go from one part of the world to another. Moreover, a journey by plane is always comfortable. You can reach your destination before you feel exhausted —

Instruction: You can either paraphrase the topic sentence or summarize the three main points.