Introduction-Conclusion Techniques: Mirroring, Complementing, and the Flip Technique

Great writers often begin the introduction with a surprising fact or data, a metaphor, question, or quote. They then follow up on their introduction in the conclusion by completing the thought begun in the introduction.

Mirroring 

The simplest way to connect the introduction and the conclusion is to simply mirror the introduction in the conclusion. You start the conclusion with the thesis or general topic sentence, followed by your final thought, which can be an observation, prediction, or suggestion. This final thought needs to be related to the hook/overview.

With mirroring, you don’t need to think about your conclusion at all. Focus on the intro and then simply paraphrase and mirror it in your conclusion.

Complementing 

A more advanced technique is complementing or completing the hook/overview in the conclusion. The connection gives the essay a feeling of completeness, of well-roundedness. These are possible connections:

1. Intro: Conflict/dilemma

Conclusion: How was it resolved? Why can’t it be resolved?

2. Intro: Definition

Conclusion: Should the definition change?

3. Intro: Shocking/surprising fact

Conclusion: What happened next? Resolution?

4. Intro: Question

Conclusion: Answer

5. Intro: Quote

Conclusion: Another quote by the same person related to the same point; another quote by another person giving a different perspective on the same idea

FLIP technique: Irony and Unintended Consequences

The flip technique involves a shift from negative to positive or positive to negative.

To add depth to our argument, we can highlight the irony or unintended consequences of a situation. This occurs when actions meant to solve a problem end up creating new issues or making the original problem worse.

For example, in essays about environmental topics, you can highlight the irony of well-meaning initiatives that have unintended negative consequences. For example, improving efficiency often leads to higher consumption, counteracting the original environmental goal of reduced resource consumption or pollution (e.g. If more people drive electric cars, demand for gasoline will fall, causing its price to drop, so more people will buy powerful gasoline-powered cars or drive more because gas is cheaper).

Example: “Electric cars were meant to reduce emissions, yet their popularity has led to larger, more powerful vehicles that still contribute to environmental problems.”

Example: “The Haber-Bosch process doubled global food production, but it also led to pollution and soil degradation, creating long-term environmental challenges.”

Example: “Ironically, McDonald’s switch from Styrofoam to paper packaging, which was intended to reduce environmental impact, ended up causing more harm due to the non-recyclable wax coating on the paper.”