A good essay is like a good sandwich. All the good stuff is in the middle, but without the bread it just wouldn’t taste as good. In the same way, your essay should have an introduction and a conclusion to complement it with that sense of roundedness.
There are various ways you can implement your introduction and conclusion. Take a look at the following. You can implement one of these examples to guide you in writing your own, or you can combine a few of them.
Soggy bread sandwich
What some would consider an easy way out, one method suggests that you simply use the content that’s been written and just compress it to form your introduction and conclusion. This means that you would have to do this after the main content is written. Doing this can work, but some readers will find it redundant that you keep repeating information in a different way.
Whole wheat bread
However, if you word the introduction in a way that lets the reader look forward to the content, and then close off nicely with a conclusion that confirms that same content, the reader is more likely to enjoy the beginning, middle and end of your essay. Give your reader a healthy pre- and post look at what your essay body contains without making it obvious that you’re reiterating anything.
If you think you’re creative enough, you can always write an introduction and conclusion that are completely original and separate from the content. Doing this gives the reader a bit more to think about, but be careful not to go off the topic. Both introduction and conclusion should complement the filling.
No butter, with a touch of mustard
An introduction that contains absolutely no spoilers is only effective if it has a good hook. Offering no spoilers, but still being able to promise something to look forward to, will fulfil the purpose of your introduction.
In a similar way, your conclusion can now be left without any further convincing. Leave the reader to make his or her own conclusion to what they’ve just read. If your filling is tasty enough, who needs butter?
The purpose of the introduction and conclusion is to bring everything you’ve written together. Choose the above method that best suits your essay. Whichever you choose, make sure your introduction and conclusion compliment your paper.