1. 1 Introduction Forestry 545 February 11, 2014Dr Sue Watts, UBC Forestry

2. General manuscript format  Title  Author(s) affiliations  Abstract  Introduction  Materials & methods  Results  Discussion  References 2

3. Introduction  Your title, abstract, figures and tables provide an outline to draw your reader in  Now persuade your colleagues and co- workers to keep reading by crafting a well written introduction 3

5. Introduction  Imagine your reader standing on the ground  You climb into a hot air balloon  Your discoveries raise your knowledge level and you drop your sand bags of ignorance 5

6. Introduction  Your balloon rises slowly  By the time you are ready to write you have risen well above the reader 6

7. Introduction  Is your ladder long enough?  Do you have to drop it all the way to the ground?  Are any rungs missing? 7

8. Your job as a writer is to bridge this gap

9. Introduction Your introduction will lead the reader from a well known landmark to the particular spot occupied by your paper 9

10. Introduction  Recall the limited space for your title?  Now, finally you have a little leeway and can fully define your boundaries  Take advantage! 10

11. Introduction When you write a paper for class, your teacher is obliged to read it… However, When you address your research community, you have to convince them that your problem is their problem 11

12. Introduction You need to tell them “so what” Why is it important to resolve the flawed understanding or incomplete knowledge that you have taken on as your research? 12

13. Blackfly female 13

14. Blackfly larvae and pupa 14

15. Blackfly breeding grounds 15

16. 16 Blackfly mouthparts Compound eye Antenna Maxilla Mandible 120-125 microns Maxillary palp Epidermis

17. Typical bite reaction 17

18. Introduction Your introduction must successfully explain how your paper fills a gap (Covering letter to journal must also do this) 18

19. Introduction The weakest introduction merely announces a topic You should not just say “this paper presents the effects of Pissodes strobi on Sitka spruce leader growth It is well known that leader development is an important aspect of spruce form” 19

20. Introduction Say why the work was done Make it interesting, brief and as simple as possible Follow the 3-step procedure 20

21. Introduction The purpose of a 3-step introduction is to excite and interest the reader and to answer the question “Why was this work embarked upon?” 21

22. Introduction – 3 steps 1. Present the general field of interest 2. Present others’ findings to be challenged or expanded 3. Specify the question being asked This should total no more than 1 page Some journals want a brief summary of findings and conclusions at end of introduction 22

23. Introduction – First step 1. General field of interest  Why is the subject important?  State what is known, give references  Do not try to cover everything  One to 3 paragraphs 23

24. Introduction – First step Showing the importance of your work is an essential part of your introduction In general, the less your audience knows about your subject, the more difficult it is to write the first part of your introduction 24

25. Introduction – First step Consider the audience of your journal and begin with a statement that all readers will accept You MUST know the audience to be able to do this 25

26. Introduction – First step After stating what is known generally, describe what is known in your specific research problem Bring your reader to an incomplete corner or hole in the available scientific reports 26

27. Introduction – First step Provide sufficient references so that the reader can check the literature and see what observations currently surround the hole or gap that you intend to fill Note: Cindy suggest no more than 2 citations per fact for a journal article (no restriction in thesis) 27

28. Introduction – First step 28

29. Introduction – First step Word of caution  It is very easy to get “carried away” with too much background material  Provide the broad topic but be selective, focus in quickly 29

30. Introduction – Second step 2. Present findings to be challenged  Explain how you intend to extend what is already known in your specific research area  Provide support for your argument before stating your hypothesis 30

31. Introduction – second step 31

32. Introduction – third step 3. Specify the question being asked  After leading your readers to the edge, state your plan of attack to fill the gap  This is usually done in the form of a hypothesis  Indicate your experimental approach to testing this hypothesis  Point out what is new about your work 32

33. Introduction – third step 33

34. Hypothesis When you develop a hypothesis it usually builds on something that has gone on before You must be able to test your hypothesis 34

35. Hypothesis A hypothesis is a reasonable expectation of results (unknown) based on known information Avoid “see what happened” “no reports in the literature” “it seemed interesting to” 35

36. Formulating a hypothesis Carrot example  You have been asked to measure the iron content of a crop of carrots showing signs of iron deficiency  Quality of carrots has been improved by applying lime (calcium) to soil  Lime raises pH and reduces iron uptake 36

37. Formulating a hypothesis Healthy carrot production requires plants with lime and iron Formulate a hypothesis for this study 37

38. Final Hypothesis There is a level of lime that will supply sufficient calcium and at the same time will allow the iron to be absorbed in sufficient quantities to make better carrots 38

39. Introduction - tenses Final note: Much of the introduction should be in present tense as you are referring to the current established knowledge relating to your research The introduction is the place to define terms and abbreviations 39

40. Assignment #3  Write an introduction to your research proposal  Include a title and references, properly formatted (you will learn how to do this in week #10)  Length should be about 900-1100 words  Use standard margins and double spacing Due date March 18 (hard copy in class) 40