Composition Writing: A good ending

LAST week we looked at a good beginning. We said it must not be a list of facts, one after the other, unrelated to the topic, long and meandering about, boring and time wasting. That one is an INTRODUCTION. A good beginning, we said, must go straight into the point, into the story in the opening sentence. It must aim at three things: interest the marker/reader, captivate, grip and hook him or her. It must display the joy of story-telling from the outset . . . from that opener.

To achieve the above, a writer may use description of action anchored and flourishing on strong verbs and carefully chosen adverbs or adjectives, dialogue or drama coming out through direct speech (mind your punctuation), flashback, creating atmosphere or a titillating question: 1. “Have you ever been accused and punished for something you did not do?” 2. Have you ever wondered what you would do if suddenly you lost both parents?

Any of the above methods may soon become your favourite way of beginning a story-type composition, but remember, let it not be a time wasting, irrelevant introduction.

This week we are discussing good endings.

Many teachers and students accept out-of the-box (irrelevant) conclusions. “After the chaotic game of football we all went back to our homes. The winnersby- default were celebrating. The losers were up in arms against the game officials and opponent supporters. Trouble makers, called hooligans in football, were already in the hands of the riot police. Many of them had been mauled by police dogs and teargassed.”

Do you see that this last paragraph (the conclusion), though written in beautiful English, is out of the box (out of topic)? The game is over, is it not? What is the writer still talking about? The game ends in the field, not outside. Such common sense is expected at Ordinary Level, from all candidates.

Consider the following Ending (Not conclusion):

At the end of the final whistle, Musona, the Mutare SaManyika Eleven hat-trick scorer went down on his knees. He kissed the ground and pointed into heaven seemingly suggesting God had something to do with his day’s sterling performance. He shed tears of joy. What an emotional end to a beautiful game of soccer!

A good ending does not meander or stray away from the topic. It does not take away the thrill or action built up in the climax, seemingly adding cold water to boiling water. Do not allow the tension ‘enjoyed’ in the climax to boil down and eventually away from the heat of the story.

A skilfully written story builds up to an amusing or gripping climax and then stops abruptly. Some abrupt endings may culminate into a completely unfinished account but if thoughtfully and skilfully done, it creates amusing and amazing suspense. In literary science this is called a cliff-hanger, simply suggesting you are skilfully keeping the reader hanging. Do not tell him or her everything. Leave them to think, “Then what could have happened next?” Do not tell them everything. Consider the following endings:

1. I had witnessed two ugly car accidents before but this third one was gory and frightening. What makes some drivers want to drive Air-Zimbabwe and want to fly instead of driving their cars? I wondered. Before I made an effort to answer this question, another one came to mind. “Where is God when the devil does what he wants with people’s lives?”

Notice how you let the reader remain answering these questions for you. Meanwhile your job is done. A scintillating story written to captivate, to hook, to grip the reader! You seem to be saying at the end, ‘I’m done. What do you, the marker, think?”

Is that not a fascinating way of ending (not concluding) a story?

2. Walking back to my home after church service, I noticed a sleek metallic blue Mercedes Benz 160S car parked at the gate. In it were two disreputable-looking occupants who seemed clearly incongruous with such a vehicle. I casually retraced my steps and stationed myself unobtrusively to keep them under observation.

Do you see that this ending could easily be a master-piece beginning of a beautiful adventure or investigation story?

Please note: The ending of other composition types is different. For example, if you have been describing a series of actions, like when building a chalet, a bridge, a camp-site or visiting a place of interest, you stop when the last action is completed. Take care to let the marker or reader know and understand that your account is complete. Do not leave him mentally hanging in the air.

In many cases indeed you can look forward into the future. For example, if your topic is TRANSPORT IN MY COUNTRY. At the end you can write, “However, it is likely that we shall see even more interesting developments in the future.”

If your topic is A VISIT TO A PLACE OF INTEREST, you can say, “This was one of most enjoyable days I have ever spent and I hope to return to . . . again one day in the future/ opportunity permitting/ God willing.”

It does not really matter which method you use-so long as you show as much skill at the ending of your composition as you do in beginning it.

A good composition is a fine work of art. You begin with a hooking, gripping opening sentence and paragraph, unfold your story or ideas interestingly and in a logical way, and then end skilfully.

Remember reading this article once as you are doing now and understanding it will not make you a writer of master-piece compositions.

You need to seriously do three things: PRACTICE, PRACTICE and PRACTICE. Until the skills become a talent, a gift, stored or stuck at the tips of your fingers!