Chapter 13

Introduction

What key skills are needed when writing an introduction?

- Background Knowledge (to appreciate findings as advancement).

- Same things in a different way.

- Tools for understanding the study (meaning, and motivation).

- Plan to develop the topic.

- Roadmap [line of argument (how to support a statement)].

- Deep knowledge of the topic and decide important issues.

How show I structure the introduction?

- What is the problem?

- Are there any existing solutions (i.e., in the literature)?

- Which solution is the best?

- What is the main limitation? (i.e., What gap am I hoping to fill?)

- What do I hope to achieve?

- Have I achieved what I set out to do?

How should I begin my introduction? (Not necessarily in this sequence) (length varies: by

discipline, by paper).

- Enough background information:

o For understanding the reason of the questions (context)

o Reasons for: Hypotheses, predictions, and results

o Preview

Function Length in sentences 1.- Definition of the topic plus background. 1-3

- May be necessary (Definition phrase). - Notations (graphic symbols). - Technical explanations. - Explanations of key words.

Second sentence: - Familiar information - Suggest importance - How to extent knowledge - Set the context for following information - Importance of the specific study instead

of the general area.

2.- Accepted state of the art plus problem to be resolved.

2-4 - Gap to fill. - What the problem is. - Why the problem was selected. - Why the claim of the importance.

3.- Author’s objectives. 1-2 - How to fill out the gap. - Parts 6 and 7 could be incorporated here. - Transition into the literature review.

4.- Introduction to the literature. 1- many pages - Introduction to background literature. - Motivation for the research. - Insufficient knowledge.

5.- Survey of pertinent literature. 1- many pages - Review of the literature. - Attention to the unsolved problem. - Specific purposes of the study

6.- Author’s contribution. 1-2 - How and what the contribution is.

7.- Aim of the present work. 1-2

- Goal of the study. - What method was used.

*8.- Main results/conclusions. 1-4 - Results in context

9.- Future implications. 1-2 - Implications, importance.

*10.- Outline of structure. 3-4 - Outline of the structure of the study.

Note. *No relevant for this class.

Are there any other ways of beginning an introduction?

- By using questions.

What tenses should I use?

Present, present perfect, simple past, and future.

Summary: How can I assess the quality of the introduction?

- Is my research question clear

- Does my introduction act as a clear road map for understanding my paper?

- Have I mentioned only what readers specifically need to know and what I will

subsequently refer in the discussion?

- Have I been as concise as possible?

- Have I used the tenses correctly?