Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

An introduction can be the hardest part of a research paper. The length of your introduction depends on the type of research you plan to write. Here, you will state the topic, content and rationale before declaring the research question and hypothesis. A good introduction is one that establishes the style of writing, catches the reader's interest, and can present a hypothesis or topic sentence.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Introduce the topic of the research paper

1. 

   Research topic statement. You can start with a few topic questions as well as suggest the types of research questions that will be answered. This is a great way to introduce your topic and spark interest from your readers. The first questions that need to present the content are further explored in the following section and lead to specific research questions.
   • For scientific papers, it is sometimes called the "inverted triangle" method: going from general to specific.
   • The sentence "During the 20th century, our views on extraterrestrial life have changed a lot" introduces the topic but has not gone into detail.
   • It helps readers navigate the content of the article and encourages them to read on.

2. 

   
   
   Consider using keywords. When writing published research, you will have to submit the manuscript along with a bunch of keywords. These keywords help readers quickly identify the field of research you are targeting. You can also put a few keywords in the title that you want to build and emphasize in the introduction.
   • For example, in the study on mouse behavior when exposed to a substance, you might include the word "mouse" and the chemical name of the compound involved in the first sentence.
   • If you are writing a history about the impact of World War I on sexual relations in the UK, you should include these keywords in the first few lines.

3. 

   
   
   Defines all key terms and concepts. You may have to clear up all key terms and concepts from the start when writing your introduction. It shows that you really understand your work: if you do not explain the strange term or concept, the reader may not understand your thesis clearly.
   • This is especially important when constructing new abstractions with unfamiliar language and terminology.

4. 

   
   
   Introduce your topic through an anecdote or quote. If you write about anthropology or the social sciences, you can open and introduce your topic in more literary ways. Articles about people in particular are often started with stories or illustrative statements directed to the research topic. This is a variation of the technique of "inverted triangle" and it can excite the reader more volatile as well as show attractive writing style.
   • When using a story, make sure it is brief, relevant to your research, and does what the other preamble does: state the research topic.
   • For example, if you are writing a sociological essay on young offender recidivism rates, you could use a short story model about the person whose story shows and addresses your topic.
   • Physical science and natural sciences research has a different way of writing and in general, in this type of research, the above approach is not appreciated when used for the introduction.
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Part 2 of 3: Research content development

1. 

   Includes a short theoretical background. Depending on the overall length of the research paper, the introduction should give an overview of published studies in the same field. This is important because it demonstrates your extensive knowledge and understanding of field research and debate. The introduction should show that while you have broad knowledge, you will focus on the issues most relevant to your research.
   • The introduction should be concise, providing an overview of the current developments in the premise study instead of a lengthy discussion.
   • You can apply the "inverted triangle" principle to go from the broader picture to the problems that you directly contribute to in your research.
   • A good theoretical background will present key background information for your research and show the importance of the field of research.

2. 

   Through theoretical basis, clarify your contribution. Part of a concise but complete theoretical background can be a very effective way to shape the paper. When developing an introduction, you can go from theory to your own research and its place in the field.
   • By clearly referring to existing work, you can make a concrete contribution to the overall development of your field.
   • You can identify gaps in current research and explain how you approach and promote knowledge development.

3. 

   Thorough explanation of the research reason. Once you have identified a work's unique place, you can more fully explain the reason for the research, its strengths and its own importance. This rationale should be clear and concise, showing the value of the research and its contribution to its field. Try not to just say that you are filling the gaps in current research. Emphasis on the positive contributions of the work.
   • If you are writing scientific research, for example, you can emphasize the validity of the experimental model or method used.
   • Emphasize what's new in research and the importance of your new approach. However, don't go into too much detail in the introduction.
   • The given reason may be: "a study to evaluate the unknown anti-inflammatory factors of a compound with a local effect in order to evaluate its potential medical effects".
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Part 3 of 3: Clarifying research questions and hypotheses

1. 

   Ask your research question. Once you have identified the position of the research in your field and presented the overall rationale for the work, you can now clarify the questions that will be addressed in your research. Your rationale and research rationale will shape your work and introduce your research question. These questions need to be developed spontaneously from the previous sections and should not be asked suddenly, to surprise the reader.
   • A research question is often asked at the end of the introduction. They should be concisely presented and focused.
   • The research question may reiterate some of the keywords that were formulated in the first sentence and title of the research paper.
   • The research question might be something like this: "What is the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement on Mexico's export-oriented economy?"
   • The effect of an element of a Free Trade Agreement on a particular Mexican industry, such as the garment industry, can be studied further.
   • A good research question should shape the problem in a verifiable hypothesis.

2. 

   Present your hypothesis. After you ask your research question, you need to present your idea, or topic sentence, clearly and concisely. It shows that the research will make a concrete contribution and has clear results, not just addressing a general topic. You should briefly clarify how you came to this hypothesis and refer to its theoretical basis.
   • If possible, avoid using the word "hypothesis" and still let the reader understand what you mean. As a result, the article will be less rigid.
   • With scientific papers, the clear preliminary presentation of the results and their relationship to the hypotheses in one sentence makes information clear and accessible.
   • For example, the hypothesis might be that "mice that were not fed during the study period are expected to lack more flexibility than those fed normally".

3. 

   The research layout. In some cases, the end of the introduction will be several lines that present an overview of the content structure of the research paper. You can simply outline your outline and how you organize and break up your writing.
   • This is not always necessary. You should pay attention to the practices used when writing research in your field.
   • For the natural science lesson, for example, you will follow a relatively rigid structure.
   • Often the humanities and social sciences papers can be more flexible in structure.
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Advice

• Use an outline to determine what information to include in your introduction.
• Consider drafting your introduction after you have finished the rest of your research paper. Thanks to that, do not miss any important points.

Warning

• Don't write sensational or sensational in your introduction: it can make the reader feel unreliable.
• In general, it is important to avoid the use of first-proclaimed persons, such as "I", "we", "our", "mine".
• Don't overwhelm the reader with too much redundant information. Keep your introduction as concise as possible by devoting specific details to the body.