In scientific papers this is sometimes known as an “inverted triangle”, where you start with the broadest material at the start, before zooming in on the specifics. [2] X Research source The sentence “Throughout the 20th century, our views of life on other planets have drastically changed” introduces a topic, but does so in broad terms. It provides the reader with an indication of the content of the essay and encourages them to read on.
For example, if you were writing a paper about the behaviour of mice when exposed to a particular substance, you would include the word “mice”, and the scientific name of the relevant compound in the first sentences. If you were writing a history paper about the impact of the First World War on gender relations in Britain, you should mention those key words in your first few lines.
This is especially important if you are attempting to develop a new conceptualization that uses language and terminology your readers may be unfamiliar with.
If you use an anecdote ensure that is short and highly relevant for your research. It has to function in the same way as an alternative opening, namely to announce the topic of your research paper to your reader. For example, if you were writing a sociology paper about re-offending rates among young offenders, you could include a brief story of one person whose story reflects and introduces your topic. This kind of approach is generally not appropriate for the introduction to a natural or physical sciences research paper where the writing conventions are different.
It is important to be concise in the introduction, so provide an overview on recent developments in the primary research rather than a lengthy discussion. You can follow the “inverted triangle” principle to focus in from the broader themes to those to which you are making a direct contribution with your paper. A strong literature review presents important background information to your own research and indicates the importance of the field.
By making clear reference to existing work you can demonstrate explicitly the specific contribution you are making to move the field forward. You can identify a gap in the existing scholarship and explain how you are addressing it and moving understanding forward.
For example, if you are writing a scientific paper you could stress the merits of the experimental approach or models you have used. Stress what is novel in your research and the significance of your new approach, but don’t give too much detail in the introduction. A stated rationale could be something like: “the study evaluates the previously unknown anti-inflammatory effects of a topical compound in order to evaluate its potential clinical uses”.
The research question or questions generally come towards the end of the introduction, and should be concise and closely focused. The research question might recall some of the key words established in the first few sentences and the title of your paper. An example of a research question could be “what were the consequences of the North American Free Trade Agreement on the Mexican export economy?” This could be honed further to be specific by referring to a particular element of the Free Trade Agreement and the impact on a particular industry in Mexico, such as clothing manufacture. A good research question should shape a problem into a testable hypothesis.
If possible try to avoid using the word “hypothesis” and rather make this implicit in your writing. This can make your writing appear less formulaic. In a scientific paper, giving a clear one-sentence overview of your results and their relation to your hypothesis makes the information clear and accessible. [10] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source An example of a hypothesis could be “mice deprived of food for the duration of the study were expected to become more lethargic than those fed normally”.
This is not always necessary and you should pay attention to the writing conventions in your discipline. In a natural sciences paper, for example, there is a fairly rigid structure which you will be following. A humanities or social science paper will most likely present more opportunities to deviate in how you structure your paper.
