Writing the Introduction Research Paper Writing the Introduction

Introduction should be grabbing and impressive to induce the reader to read further on present your introduction in a clear, precise and interesting way convince your reader that your essay is worth reading

Attention Getters Quotation: One that sums up the essay, not one that is not connected to content of your research Definition: Use sparingly. Many writers use this method. Question: Ask a question in the introduction...and answer it in the body. Question must be RELEVANT AND THOUGHT PROVOKING!

Attention Getters Problem: Pose a problem in the introduction... and solve it in the body. Statistics: Make sure they're actual statistics and not something you made up. Comparison: Take something the reader is unfamiliar with and relate it to something they are familiar with. Metaphor/Simile: An even more effective comparison for making the complex seem simple.

Attention Getters Shocker: Everybody likes surprises. Unfortunately, it's getting harder to shock people. Summary: A brief summary piques reader interest. Anecdote: A short humorous story relevant to the topic eases the reader into the material. Expert opinion: An expert gives you instant credibility with the reader. Make sure the expert is an actual expert and not your Uncle Fred from Topeka

Introduction Format-Review Begin with a general point about the issue Give an overview of the key issues involved in the topic Indicate the direction your argument will take

Background Information Sentences 3-4: Background Information This is an opportunity to provide background information about your issue/topic. Set up the reader for what he or she is going to learn in the paper.

Thesis Statement Sentence 5/6: Thesis Statement This thesis statement is an informational statement that identifies the direction/argument of your paper.

Thesis Statement an explanation of the topic or purpose of a research paper a single, declarative sentence states what you want your readers to know, believe, or understand

Sample Introduction Paragraph Since its introduction, technology has constantly developed bringing with it different changes in the society. The field of technology affects all aspects of human life. People are getting used to it and it is even unimaginable to live without it in the current society. It affects the way things are done in the work place and the social life and this has a great impact on human freedom and happiness. In essence, technology has been influential in these aspects of human life.

Sample Introduction Paragraph As the Internet has become an integral tool of businesses, company policies on Internet usage have become as common as policies regarding vacation days or sexual harassment. A 2005 study by the American Management Association and ePolicy Institute found that 76% of companies monitor employees’ use of the Web, and the number of companies that block employees’ access to certain Web sites has increased 27% since 2001 (1). Unlike other company rules, however, Internet usage policies often include language authorizing companies to secretly monitor their employees, a practice that raises questions about rights in the workplace. Although companies often have legitimate concerns that lead them to monitor employees’ Internet usage—from expensive security breaches to reduced productivity—the benefits of electronic surveillance are outweighed by its costs to employees’ privacy and autonomy.

Sample Introduction Paragraph Tall, dark and handsome, a body harder than steel accompanied by beautifully sculpted lines and curves of skin, muscle, and a glint in his eyes that makes you realize he knows his way around your curves and lines as well. In a split second, you’ve gone from cynical TV commercial critic to a melted pile of butter soaking into your living room carpet. All this coming from an ad for Levi’s newest pair of boot-leg-carpenter-snagged-loose-fitting-vintage-jeans-thing. Not that you noticed the jeans at all, not with this hunk of man, every woman’s fantasy, dominating your screen. But you do remember the ad and, somewhat shamefully, find yourself surfing other channels in hopes of running across it again, so you can have that one moment of complete bliss once more. The sexual stereotyping of women has been the topic of many heated debates, but what about the men? How long has this “beefcaking” of the American male been going on and why is it not as controversial as the portrayal of women in ads as sexual objects? More importantly, how has the media’s stereotyping of men as sexual objects affected today’s societal expectations of them? Let me count the ways.

Sample Introduction Paragraph (AG)“And I will do everything that I can as long as I am President of the United States to remind the American people that we are one nation…” (BI)Barack Obama has made it his goal to unite the people of America under his presidency. Despite facing hardships in his youth, Obama went on to achieve great things in his education and political career. He is a family man, a charismatic leader, and a fascinating personality. (TS) Barack Obama is quite possibly the most intriguing man who has ever presided over this country.

Sample Introduction Paragraph (AG)The sport of ice hockey is one of the most confusing to understand, hardest to play, and it of the most unknown origins of any professional sport played in America. (BI) For the majority of people who gaze upon a hockey game it appears to be an unorganized mess of skating; however, the sport of hockey is very intricate. The rules and the skills of skating and puck handling take kids most of their childhood to develop. The origins of the sport of ice hockey are also unknown, but can be traced back to the creation of ice skates, far before the times of Christ in Europe. The game of Bandy is considered the earliest forefather of modern ice hockey, and was played in the late 1700’s in Europe and Russia. (TS) The sport of ice hockey is the most misunderstood professional sport played in America; because of its intricacies and cost, it is often overlooked by the general population.

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