How to Write Introductions for Research Papers
What is an Introduction?
In an introduction, you lay out a plan for what will follow. There is more to writing an introduction than merely summarizing the points of your essay; you must find a way to open discussion of the topic. Your introduction should answer the “so what?” question. Why should anyone care about what you’re topic? Your introduction can provide a background so the reader is not coming to the discussion cold: ask yourself what your audience knows already, and what it needs to know in order to understand your thesis. The introduction should provide necessary background information and grab your reader’s attention and direct it towards the thesis and the rest of the paper.
Structure of an Introduction
Inverted Triangle: Start with the General move to Specific Ask yourself how the specific question you are addressing in the essay relates to a greater issue or field. For example, if we use the same thesis previously given: The genocide in Darfur could be helped by the introduction of a clean water source, you might want to begin by explaining what a genocide is, or by describing Darfur’s history concerning lack of water.
Thesis?
By the time you reach the end of your introductory paragraph, you should be ready to state the thesis of your essay. In other words, if you start with the general and move to the specific, the most specific aspect of your introduction will be your thesis (which should be at the end of the paragraph).
Ways to Begin
Begin
with a quotation. Just make sure you explain its relevance Begin with a question Begin with an acknowledgment of an opinion opposite to the one you plan to take Begin with a very short narrative or anecdote that has a direct bearing on your paper Begin with an interesting fact related to your topic
Activity
Think about how you could possibly start your introduction. If you started with something general related to your topic, what could it be? If you stared with a quote, who might it be from? If you started with a story, what story might you tell?
Works Cited
Brizee, Allen. "OWL Writing Lab." The OWL At Purdue. 2008. Purdue University. 1 May 2008 . Guilford, Chuck.“POWA Writing Lab.” Paradigm Online Writing Assistant. 2 May 2008 http://www.powa.org. Murray, Mary. "Cleveland State University Writing Center." Cleveland State University. 7 Feb. 2007. Cleveland State University. 1 May 2008 . The UVic Writer's Guide." University of Victoria. 1995. University of Victoria. 1 May 2008