Starting a composition, without planning for its conclusion is similar to leaving the house without having a clear idea of your destination.

By planning how the story ends in advance, young writers are anchoring their story, building a cohesive and coherent narrative.

The easiest, and least impactful way to end is to quickly state “…and he learnt his lesson never to do it again.” However, that is one of the most frustrating and least endings.

Here’s how to craft a conclusion, using the 3Rs (topic: “Impatience”)

Reflect
When the problem has been solved, the protagonist looks back and Reflects on what happened. It signals a new maturity in him. It does not have to be a long reflection, just something that links to the story.

Once the dust had settled, Sam thought long and hard about his lucky escape. He shuddered to think about what would have happened if Peter had not arrived in the nick of
time that fateful day.

Realise
Next, the protagonist realises that his actions had certain consequences which shaped the
events that have brought him to this end. It signals the change in him.
Sam realised that it was his own impatience and impetuousness that had put him in the
predicament in the first place. Had he thought about things a little more, he would not have
needed rescuing.

Resolve
Finally, the protagonist Resolves to change the way he deals with difficult situations. Going
forward, he is going to be more aware of things.
If he was ever faced with a similar situation again, Sam resolved that his reaction would be
very different. Instead of rushing, he would take a little time to consider his options before
making a decision.

Last Word
There are certainly many different ways to end a story. However, the 3Rs act as an instant
prompt to students, guiding them to structure an effective conclusion to the composition.