Is this an adequate beginning?

"Chicago, like many of its surrounding cities in which share similar characteristics such as in architecture, large populations, and culture influences, is a part of the Great Lakes Region, in which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as well as the Canadian province of Ontario."

I took out the irrelevant part.

Chicago is a part of the Great Lakes Region, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as well as the Canadian province of Ontario.

Thank you. Hover, how should I continue it?

Find some more facts about this region in the Wikipedia article.

Chicago is a part of the Great Lakes Region, in which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as well as the Canadian province of Ontario. It borders the Great Lakes and forms a distinctive historical, economic, and cultural identity in which is shared among the states listed above. This identity involves similar characteristics in architecture, large populations, culture influences, and the status of being one of the United States’ greatest population centers?

Great!

Thank you. However, how should I begin the conclusion?

*Thank you. However, how should I begin the conclusion?

A conclusion is a summary of what is in your paper. I'd choose just one or two of the most important facts from each paragraph to include in the conclusion.

http://www.writing.ucsb.edu/faculty/donelan/concl.html

Yes, the beginning seems to provide a good introduction to the topic of Chicago and its surrounding cities. It mentions some common characteristics such as architecture, large populations, and cultural influences, which sets the context for further discussion.

However, there are a few grammatical errors that should be corrected for clarity:

"Chicago, like many of its surrounding cities which share similar characteristics such as architecture, large populations, and cultural influences, is part of the Great Lakes Region. This region includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and the Canadian province of Ontario."

Overall, your statement effectively establishes the context and provides some relevant information about Chicago and its regional affiliation.