Research Paper Introduction

A research paper introduction is probably the most challenging part of the entire paper. Especially when you are writing a narrative essay, following the recommendations of this site, there is even a special approach to writing them. Although it will be a little out of it!! The length of an introduction is dependent on the type of research paper you have been assigned. The introduction should contain the topic and the state relevance of your paper. After that, the questions discussed in the work and the hypothesis should be listed. A well-written introduction to a research paper sets the tone for the whole work allowing you to grab the reader's attention immediately.

9 tips for writing a smart introduction

1. Communicate the topic of your research paper. You can start writing an introduction with several suggestions on the topic of the paper and enumerate the issues that you are going to cover in it. This is a good way to acquaint the reader with the topic and spark their interest. In the first few sentences, a rather general issue should be outlined, which you will zero in on later. As a result, this will let you formulate narrower research questions and tasks.

2. Define the key terms and concepts. Sometimes you are required to explain some terms and concepts when writing an introduction to a research paper. Throughout the paper, accuracy and clarity of presentation are to be observed; therefore it is necessary to define terms and concepts that are not generally known so that the reader can understand your work better.

⦁ This is particularly crucial if you develop a new concept in your work, using language and terminology that may be unfamiliar to your reader.

3. Introduce the topic of your research paper in the form of a short memorable story or a quote. If you are to write a research paper in the field of humanities, the introduction and the main topic of the work can be written in a more literary and effective manner. In particular, humanitarian papers start with an interesting story or a quote that illustrate the topic of the research.

⦁ If you use a short story to introduce the topic, make sure that it is really short and directly relates to the topic of your research paper. Its function is to present the topic of the paper to the reader in an effective manner. If you need some inspiration, you can look for an example of an introduction in research paper involving a short story online.

4. Make sure to include a small bibliography review. It is necessary to communicate what has been previously done in this area when writing an introduction for a research paper; the length of the review depends on the total volume of your paper. This is an important part of your work, showing that you have excellent knowledge of the material and you understand current issues in the field of study. You should show your good knowledge of the subject as a whole and then concentrate on more particular issues to which your article is devoted.

⦁ The introduction should be concise, so try to avoid long descriptions focusing on the latest developments in this area.

5. After analyzing previous scientific output, focus on your own contributions. A brief but comprehensive review of previous works can serve as an effective way to structure your article. After that, you need to move to your own work, considering its relevance and expected contribution to a given field of knowledge.

⦁ When referring to published works, you will be able to demonstrate the value of your publication and its contribution to the development of the field.

⦁ You can discover a gap in current knowledge and try to bridge it with your own work.

6. Work on the logic of your work. Having identified the place of your work in the context of a broad issue, try to justify its importance and relevance in narrower terms. Based on your description, the value of your research paper and its contribution to the development of a particular area of knowledge should be clear. Try not only to point out the current lack of knowledge in the field but emphasize the contribution made by your work.

7. Identify the issues to be studied. Having indicated the place of your work in the field of study and justified its importance, you can proceed with the formulation of the issues considered in your research work. These questions stem from the bibliography review considered earlier.

8. State the hypothesis. Once the issues are posted, it is necessary to state clearly and succinctly the hypothesis or theses that are subject to verification. At that, you should not use some general phrases but indicate the specific contribution and expected results of the work. The hypothesis should stem from the available knowledge on the issue.

9. Come up with an outline of your paper. Sometimes, an introduction format for research paper ends with a few lines that briefly describe the structure of the entire work. There, you can simply indicate the order of presentation you have chosen and the principle of dividing the paper into sections.

Summing up, we hope you find this guide informative, and now you know what should an introduction include in a research paper.