Five Ways to End a Children's Magazine Article
How to Write a Conclusion for a Nonfiction Piece for Kids
Oct 1, 2009
Finding a good way to wrap up a children’s magazine article is an important task for writers. That's because a conclusion can affect the reader's opinion of the entire piece. If the conclusion doesn’t provide adequate closure (or worse, doesn’t exist) the reader will be left hanging and feel cheated. A conclusion should not only give readers closure, though, it should also remind them of what they learned and assure them that the article was worthwhile to read. Here are some ideas on how to write a conclusion that will satisfy kids — and editors.
Summarize and Show
Summaries make fine conclusions as long as they don't just repeat what's already been said. Instead, reword the main ideas of the article and show how they relate to each other and the article’s message. One thing to avoid altogether is beginning a conclusion with “in conclusion” or “in summary.”
Leave Food for Thought
Kids are curious, so leaving them with a thought-provoking question or statement is a welcome strategy. Ask how the topic might affect the future, or provide a new detail that will get them wondering and wanting to know more. Writers can also list contacts and sources for more information in the conclusion.
Answer an Earlier Question
A conclusion is a good place to answer a question posed early on, like in the introduction. Even if the body of the article reveals the answer, it can be more clearly stated or explained in the conclusion. It might be helpful to remind the reader of the question before giving the answer.
Suggest Getting Involved
Magazine articles are useful tools for getting kids to take part in making the world a better place. Depending on the topic, writers can help by suggesting ways to get involved in worthy causes. Ending an article with a challenge to make a difference can benefit more than just the reader.
Combine Strategies
Even though a conclusion might be as short as a couple of sentences, two or more of the above strategies can be combined when writing a conclusion. For example, a writer can briefly summarize the main points of the article, then leave readers with a final thought that inspires further research.
When writing magazine articles for children, remember that good conclusions provide closure and make kids feel like their time spent reading the article was worthwhile. Give one of these methods a try, and see how writing conclusions for children’s magazine articles is easier than it seems.
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