How to Write Introduction Shainn-Wei Wang, Ph.D. NCKU, College of Medicine Institute of Molecular Medicine

Writing & Story telling Science: the beauty of mind Complexity & Simplicity Vision & Fact Structure & Outline Objective & Subjective Passion & logic Dream & Reality

Complexity and Confusion usually go side by side Can’t get there from here…

Two things to keep in mind Absolute clarity in scientific writing - Clearly stated problem & conclusion - Well ordered structure - little need for ornamentation Scientific responsibility - reproducibility

Repeated Process & Modifications Before writing a paper, you should have in mind a provisional title and an outline of the paper that you propose to write

A logic way to write Some experienced writers prepare their title and abstract after the paper is written, even though by placement these elements come first

Proposal Experimental design Introduction Materials & Methods Data processing Figures & Tables (one idea one graph) Proposal Experimental design Justified conclusion Provisional title & outline of research & Discussion Outlines of your results Results your discussions Literature search & Reference Discussion 1 2 3 4 6 1, 6 1, 4, 6, 7 Brain Storm Loop 2 Abstract & Title 5 Loop 1

The First Section: Introduction A bad beginning makes a bad ending - Euripides - A good beginning arouses expectations that the body of the essay satisfies. - Both the writer and reader must have a sense that the starting point is a logical or natural one

The purpose of the Introduction is: - To provide Sufficient background info to allow the reader to understand and evaluate the result of present study - Rationale for the present study

Cut into the points Introduction is the explanation of “ the essential elements” of your research

A good introduction does two things at least: it "Defines" for the reader what the paper (or essay) is going to address; it "Divides" the topic of the paper into the parts to be "Discussed.".

Naturally, there are a great variety of ways to accomplish these two tasks. But the point is that a good introduction leaves readers with a good idea of what the paper is all about and how the writer intends to "attack" his topic

The hook to gain the reader’s attention Why did you choose that subject ? Why is it important ?

The 4 D’s - Define (topic & key words) - Divide (outline main points) - Discuss (position in literature) - Drive Home (the overall design and general picture of your study)

Suggestions The nature and scope of the problem investigated -State briefly and clearly your purpose -Review the pertinent literature to orient the reader -State the principle or particular method of the investigation -State the principl result of the investigation -State the principle conclusion(s) suggested by the results -Written in the present tense

Citations & abbreviations should mention previous published work(s) if close related papers have been or are about to published elsewhere, you should say so in the Introduction, customarily at or toward the end - Other citation and abbreviation rules follow journal’s guide

Ways to start the first sentence Begin with a definition or explanation of a term relevant to your paper Begin with an interesting fact Begin with a question Begin with an acknowledgment of an opinion opposite to the one you plan to take Begin with a quotation. Just make sure you explain its relevance Begin with an analogy. Make sure it's original but not too far-fetched Begin with irony or paradox Begin with a very short narrative or anecdote that has a direct bearing on your paper If introductions give you trouble no matter when you do them or how you begin, sometimes it helps to construct several mini-outlines just for that paragraph and try each out to see which works best.

Before you write, always spend 15 to 30 minutes creating an outline first. Draft: Layout Brainstorming - Fact - Idea Define & Divide Introductory paragraph Body Conclusion What? Why? How? Outlines: When? Where? Which?

Outlines -The outline will help keep your paper organized and focused and cut down on the number of rough drafts you generate.  - Use the following steps to construct your outline:

1.  Brainstorming: - Once you have decided on a subject, brainstorm your ideas by writing down any facts, thoughts, insights you have in the brainstorming section of your outline - In order to get started brainstorming, ask yourself questions. How does the topic affect the current theory or findings? Is it agree or against something you have learned in class? - Effective brainstorming is to really logically think about the topic, considering as much as possible about it. 

2. Organizing & Specifying your thoughts - Next, begin work on organizing your introductory paragraph by answering the following questions: - What is the research topic … - What is the definition of… - What is the problem related to...

3. Organizing introductory paragraph Organize your introductory paragraph by listing points to be made in each sentence.  Always begin with the most general, gradually getting more and more specific, until you make your very specific thesis statement

4. Organizing the body of your paper. -Using your thesis statement, list categories for the paragraphs in the body of your paper -Each category should specify the position (problems or goals) of your study relative to current literatures.

5. Plan your conclusion - The conclusion reverses the order of the introduction, moving from a paraphrase of your thesis statement to more general statements summing up the points made in your paper - Remember, the conclusion should remind the reader of the points that have been made in the paper, and the concluding sentence should grab the attention of not only your reviewer but a general audience.

Example RNA Incorporation Is Critical for Retroviral Particle Integrity after Cell Membrane Assembly of Gag Complexes Begin with a definition or explanation of a term relevant to your paper

2nd paragraph: Define more specific terms related to the Research topic

3rd paragraph Communicate with the literature about RNA packaging mutants in the assembly and packaging process

4th paragraph Specify the the role of RNA in packaging and assembly and the problem(s) involved in the current research

5th paragraph Conclusion: Drive home and give overall picture of the study

Example Nucleocapsid-RNA Interactions Are Essential to Structural Stability but Not to Assembly of Retroviruses 1th paragraph

2nd paragraph

3rd paragraph

4th paragraph

5th paragraph

6th paragraph conclusion

Example Annexin 2: a Novel Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Gag Binding Protein Involved in Replication in Monocyte-Derived Macrophages 1st paragraph

2nd paragraph

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