• Dialogue• Circular Ending• Surprise Ending• Question• Emotional Ending• Tell About the Present or the Future• Character Description• Leave the Reader With a Lesson• Talk to the Reader, Get Them Thinking!• Connection to Something Earlier in the Piece• Reflection• Additional note from the author

Types of Endings

Arzberger 2007

Dialogue“So, Anna? What do you think? Was it a good

surprise?” I run to her and she puts her cheek against mine. “The best ever,” I say.

The Wednesday SurpriseBy Eve Bunting

Arzberger 2007

Circular EndingBeginning: I didn’t always live in the house at 26 Fairmount Avenue. We moved there when I was five years old. I know that because in 1938, when I was still four, a big hurricane hit Meriden, Connecticut, where we lived.Ending: I ran in. I ran up the stairs; I ran into me bedroom. There were two brand-new beds, two brand-new dressers, and on the wall a mirror that looked like a ship’s wheel. The beds were turned down, and there on the bed nearer the door were my pajamas. It was my bed. It was my room. It was my new house. It was my wonderful home-26 Fairmount Avenue.

The End(for the time being)

26 Fairmount AvenueBy Tomie DePaola

Arzberger 2007

QuestionI sat for a long time, wondering what to write next. I stared at my BIC, the cartridge filled with blue so dark it was almost black. What words were hidden-unborn, unwritten-in all that unused ink?

“First Pen”Marshfield DreamsBy Ralph Fletcher

Arzberger 2007

Tell About the Present or the Future

All I can say is, if anyone wants a free yearbook, they can dig one out of the trash can in the back of the cafeteria.

You know, Rowley can have Class Clown for all I care. But if he ever gets too big for his britches, I’ll just remind him that he was the guy who ate the ______.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid By Jeff Kinney

Arzberger 2007

Tell About the Present or the Future

The rest of my vacation bolted like a fawn when you try to sneak too close. The day Dad and Mom came to take me back for school, we had such a great barbecue that we decided it should be part of the Memory Box. I could tell Dad already knew about Gramps and Gram.

When it was time to leave, Gramps squeezed me hard.Gram squeezed me soft. “Add things to the Memory Box you want Gramps to remember,”

she whispered as she handed it to me. “And bring it with you next summer. We’ll need it, you and I.”

I waved as our car drove away-away from the best and worst summer ever. This time Gramps and Gram had taken care of me. Next summer, Gram and I would take care of Gramps. And the summers after that…well, we’d figure out something.

As the car hit the top of the hill, I watched Gramps slowly disappear into the horizon. And I hugged my Memory Box.

The Memory BoxBy Mary BahrArzberger 2007

Leave the Reader with a Lesson

Did I ever miss my coins? Sometimes-but that’s okay. Because one thing I’ve learned is that, in the end, sharing and caring is worth a million pieces of gold.

“What I Did With My Coin Collection” By Tiger WoodsThanks and Giving

By Marlo Thomas & FriendsArzberger 2007

Talk to the ReaderGet Them Thinking

We walked home without a word. We didn’t tell Bigmama. We didn’t tell Mama. We didn’t tell anyone. We didn’t talk about what had happened for a very long time. And we didn’t take the shortcut again.ShortcutBy Donald Crews Arzberger 2007

Connects to Something Earlier in the Piece

Earlier in the story: I became troubled when I saw a beautiful bird beating its wings against its wooden cage trying to escape. “You should be free, little bird,” I whispered. I opened the cage door and watched as the bird spread its wings and flew away. I wished I could fly above the clouds with it.

Toward the Ending: But when I hear that old song, I search the sky for that little African bird, and I dream of freedom.

Now Let Me FlyBy Dolores Johnson

Arzberger 2007

ReflectionI always felt that if I had only

had a chance to explain, and to prepare her a bit, it wouldn’t have been such a surprise to her when she opened the oven that day. I felt that if she had just looked at my very innocent face, my wide-open, completely uncriminal eyes-instead of screaming at me, for no reason whatsoever-the whole incident would have been handled better.

I have always felt she overreacted.

“1943”Looking Back By Lois Lowry

Arzberger 2007

Circular EndingReflectionConnects to Something Earlier in the PieceTalk to the Reader Get Them ThinkingTell About the Present or the FutureLeave the Reader with a LessonDialogueQuestion

GIVE

IT

A

GO!