education » Discussions


How to write an introduction to a research paper

  • May 11, 2022


    The introduction to a research paper can be the most difficult part of an entire research paper. The volume of the introduction depends on the type of scientific article. The introduction states the topic of the article, substantiates its prerequisites and relevance, and then sets out the issues considered in the work and the hypothesis put forward. A well-written introduction sets the tone for the entire work, grabs the reader's attention, and communicates the hypothesis or thesis statements.

    Article subject submission

    State the topic of your research. You can start the introduction with a few sentences or online assignment help covering the topic of the article and listing the issues that you are going to cover in it. This is a good way to introduce readers to the topic being studied and keep them interested. The first few sentences should mention a rather broad problem, which you will focus on in more detail in the subsequent text of the introduction, which will lead you to the formulation of narrower research questions and problems.

    Such a scheme is sometimes called the "funnel" or "inverted pyramid" method. You start with some general information about your topic, narrowing it down as you get closer to the research problem statement.

    The phrase "During the 20th century, our ideas about life on other planets have changed dramatically" introduces the topic of research, without limiting it to a narrow framework.

    With this phrase, you will inform the reader about the content of your article and interest him.

    Try to use keywords. When writing a scientific article for publication in specialized publications, you will be asked to provide a short list of keywords that reflect the area in which your research belongs. There may also be some keywords in the title of the article that you want to focus readers' attention on in the introduction.

    Let's define key terms and concepts. Sometimes it is required to explain some words and expressions already in the introduction. Throughout the article, accuracy and clarity of presentation are necessary, therefore, terms and concepts that are not generally accepted should be deciphered so that the reader can understand the course of your thoughts.

    This is especially important if you are developing a new concept in your work using language and terminology that your readers may not be familiar with.

    Present the topic of the work in the form of a short memorable story or quote. If you are writing an essay in the humanities, the beginning of the introduction and the main topic of the work can be presented in a more literary and effective form. In particular, it is not uncommon for humanities essays to begin with a cautionary tale or quote that illustrates the topic of the study. This method is a variation of the "inverted pyramid" method; it indicates good style and arouses the reader's interest in your article from its very first lines.



    If you're using a short story to showcase a topic, make sure it's really short and directly related to the topic of your work. Its function is to allegorically, intelligibly and tastefully present the topic of the article to the reader.

    For example, if you are writing a sociology article on recidivism among young offenders, you might give readers a brief history of one person that reflects and represents the main theme of your paper.

    As a rule, this method is not applicable in the natural sciences, where slightly different rules for writing papers are used.

    Background of the work and its relevance

    Include a short literature review in the introduction. It is necessary to consider what has been done in this area before you; The size of the review of prior literature depends on the total length of your article. This is an important part of your publication, showing that you have an excellent command of the material and understand current issues in this area. You should show your good knowledge of the subject as a whole, then focusing on the discussion of more specific issues that your article is devoted to.

    The introduction should be kept short, so try to avoid lengthy descriptions by focusing on the latest developments in the field.

    And here you can follow the principle of the "inverted triangle", gradually moving from discussing broad issues to narrower issues directly related to your work.

    A good literature review provides important information for later discussion of your own work and demonstrates its importance.

    After reviewing the literature, focus on your own contribution. A brief but complete and comprehensive review of the literature can be an effective way to structure your paper. As you develop your introduction, move from the literature review to your own work, considering its relevance and expected contribution to the field.

    By citing already published work, you can demonstrate the value of your publication and its contribution to the development of the field.

    You can identify a gap in modern knowledge and try to fill it with your work.

    Work on the rationale behind your work. Having identified the place of your work in the context of a broad problem on https://writingassignment.net/coursework-writing-service/, try to justify its importance and relevance in narrower terms. From your description, the value of the work and its contribution to the development of a particular field of knowledge should be clear. Try not only to point out a lack or gap in knowledge in this area, but also to highlight the contribution made by your work.

    For example, when writing a research paper, you might highlight the benefits of the models or experimental methods you use.

    Focus readers on the novelty of your work and the importance of the new approach taken in it, but do not give too much detail in the introduction.

    Statement of questions and hypotheses

    List the questions to be studied. After you have indicated the place of your work in this area and justified its importance, you can proceed to the formulation of the questions considered in it. These questions follow from the literature review and rationale given earlier: the reader should be led to ask these questions, and it should not come as a surprise to him.

    As a rule, research questions are given in the final part of the introduction, they should have clear and specific wording.

    Questions may repeat some of the keywords that have already been encountered in the title of the article and the first lines of the introduction.

    The general formulation of the problem can be further broken down into more specific questions concerning specific clauses.

    The correct formulation of the question involves the formulation of a testable hypothesis.

    Formulate a working hypothesis. After posing questions, it is necessary to clearly and concisely state the hypothesis or theses to be tested. At the same time, one should not be limited to general phrases, but indicate specific contributions and expected results of the work. The hypothesis should follow from a previous discussion of the literature available on the subject.

    When presenting, try to avoid the word "hypothesis", implying it implicitly. This will give the text a less formal look.

    In the introduction to a scientific article, a few phrases are enough to sum up the previous discussion and indicate the purpose of your work.

    The hypothesis might look like this: "It was expected that mice deprived of food throughout the study would have more lethargic behavior than mice fed normally."

    Outline the structure of your article. Sometimes the introduction to a scientific publication ends with a few lines on https://writingassignment.net/write-my-speech/ briefly describing the structure of the entire subsequent article. In these lines, you can simply indicate your chosen order of presentation and the principle of dividing the text into sections.

    This step is not always necessary, and you should pay attention to the rules adopted when writing articles in your field.

    For example, most articles in the natural sciences follow a fairly strict structure.

    In the humanities, there are usually much less rigid rules about the structure of articles.

    Use your research outline to decide what information to include in the introduction.

    Try writing the introduction after you've already written the rest of your research paper. Working on the introduction last ensures that you don't miss the main points.

    Avoid emotional or sensational introductions: they may distrust readers.

    As a rule, the introduction tries to avoid the use of personal pronouns.

    Do not overload the reader with redundant information. Write the introduction as concisely as possible, leaving specific details for the main body of your work.

    More Resources:

    Essay structure

    Tips for writing a term paper

    Bachelor's and Master's Thesis Tips

    Statistics Project

    Essay Review
  • September 17, 2022
    Caldwells really exceeded my expectations after working with them. I will definitely utilize their services for my own and my clients’ future projects. https://caldwells.com/interior-doors/stock-now this link to check their products out.

(200 symbols max)

(256 symbols max)