Developing your Introduction MUSE E599 September 30, 2014 By Dr. Ramon Sanchez, updated by Kathy Burton Jones

How to draft an introduction One of the most important goals of the introduction is to connect with your readers and create interest in what you did in your research. Some of the questions readers have in their minds are: Why is this important? How does this relate to my research (or my life)? What is the value of this research paper?(Why do I need to spend some of my valuable time reading it?)

How to draft an introduction In order to make sure that you engage your reader, you have to provide a good introduction to your paper, here are some recommendations: Try to write the introduction considering your reader’s viewpoint and not your own. Ask yourself this question, if I wasn’t the author of this research paper what would be interesting in it (for me)? The first step on writing a good introduction is to let go your “emotional investment” in your own research and try to consider that you are working for the benefit of the reader.

How to draft an introduction Create a good and solid story of why your research project is important. You probably know why your research is important, but the reader might need a reminder. Think of a good way to describe the importance of your research to someone that knows very little about it, once you create a coherent story try to think on the most effective way to explain it to your reader.

How to draft an introduction Structure your introduction with deductive arguments. Your introduction should have two deductive arguments. The first one justifies your research by stating a problem, then describing related literature or operational practices that dealt with this problem in the past. Then you identify a “gap” (what is not know, a question that was not answered in previous research). A “gap” could be a contradictory statement, an effort to reconcile a paradox, two conflicting findings or observations, lack of evidence or very limited information, inconclusive evidence, etc. The second deductive argument makes sure that the gap is addressed with appropriate data and your methods (tell us what you are about to do and what is your expected outcome from this research work)

How to draft an introduction Consider what is known and what is not known to help in defining the structure of your introduction. A good practice to facilitate implementation of the previous recommendations when drafting an introduction is to divide it into three parts (or subheadings): “What is known”, “What is not known” and “Response/Action” The “known” part goes at the beginning of the introduction, here you describe general information about your particular problem giving data or citing previous studies as needed (try to answer the following question: “Why is this important?”)

How to draft an introduction The “not known” part describes information related to your topic that is inconclusive, that needs more work or is an area of opportunity for science or research (you might start this section by saying: “HOWEVER the current method/research/practice, etc. has the following limitations/uncertainties/areas of opportunity, etc.) The “response” section shows what you are going to do about this issue, this is your action plan to do research to reduce the “unknown” part. After stating the problems or areas of opportunity of current research you can tell us what you are about to do, you could start this section by saying: “THEREFORE I’m going to….” (briefly describe your new and improved study design, your hypothesis or logic argument, your goal, etc.)

How to draft an introduction Make sure that you use the right verb tense-voice. Usually you should use past tenses to describe all actions that have been completed, including your own. Use present tense only for statements that are generally valid or are universally accepted (“Earth is a planet in the solar system”, “Humans need an atmosphere with oxygen to breath”, etc.) Use future tense for any future actions Introductions should be written in an active voice.

How to draft an introduction Summary: State the Problem (Why is this important?). Create a good solid story of why your research project is important Remind the reader how people or society have dealt with this problem in the past (any current practices to deal with the problem or lack of knowledge, really brief chronology of past research projects- just the most meaningful ones). Identify the gaps of knowledge in previous research projects or something you would like to investigate related to the problem or issue at hand (Scientists have identified and characterized all these factors about the problem…. However, we still don’t know X and my research aims to cover this gap of knowledge) Let the reader know how you are planning on solving this issue (a very brief description of the methodology you are planning on using for your research, meaning name of the methodology and basic process, not a lot of details) Let the reader know what would be the benefits of solving this issue in tangible and objective terms (not qualitative terms) like $, jobs created, lives saved, time saved, etc.

How to draft an introduction Finish your introduction and ask other people to read it. You might get valuable advice on how to improve your introduction.