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

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

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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. 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.".

12. 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

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

14. 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)

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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.

18. 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?

19. 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:

20. 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. 

21. 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...

22. 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

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. 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

26. 2nd paragraph:
Define more
specific terms
related to the
Research topic

27. 3rd paragraph
Communicate with
the literature
about RNA
packaging mutants
in the assembly
and packaging
process

28. 4th paragraph
Specify the the role of RNA in packaging and assembly and the problem(s) involved
in the current research

29. 5th paragraph
Conclusion:
Drive home and give overall picture of the study

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

31. 2nd paragraph

32. 3rd paragraph

33. 4th paragraph

34. 5th paragraph

35. 6th paragraph
conclusion

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

37. 2nd
paragraph

40. 小路
See you next time

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