How to write an introduction for a research paper,Step 1: Introduce your topic
WebAug 10, · You can: Write your introduction last. An introduction summarizes all of the things you’ve learned from your research. While it Include a strong quotation or WebNov 24, · The introduction to a research paper is where you set up your topic and approach for the reader. It has several key goals: Present your topic and get the reader WebThe Methods section describes exactly what you did to gather the data that you use in your paper. This should expand on the brief methodology discussion in the introduction and WebFeb 1, · The introduction should be – words long and constitute around 8% to 9% of the total words. The introduction should support your research findings. WebA research paper introduction is an important part of a research paper as it gives the reader an overview of the topic being studied and sets the tone for the paper. It is ... read more
It has several key goals:. The introduction looks slightly different depending on whether your paper presents the results of original empirical research or constructs an argument by engaging with a variety of sources. The five steps in this article will help you put together an effective introduction for either type of research paper. Table of contents Step 1: Introduce your topic Step 2: Describe the background Step 3: Establish your research problem Step 4: Specify your objective s Step 5: Map out your paper Research paper introduction examples Frequently asked questions about the research paper introduction. This is generally accomplished with a strong opening hook. The hook is a striking opening sentence that clearly conveys the relevance of your topic.
Think of an interesting fact or statistic, a strong statement, a question, or a brief anecdote that will get the reader wondering about your topic. For example, the following could be an effective hook for an argumentative paper about the environmental impact of cattle farming:. A more empirical paper investigating the relationship of Instagram use with body image issues in adolescent girls might use the following hook:. Clarity and relevance are still more important than catchiness. The key thing is to guide the reader into your topic and situate your ideas.
In a more empirical paper, this is the place to review previous research and establish how yours fits in. Provide only the most relevant background information. This is a sort of miniature literature review —a sketch of the current state of research into your topic, boiled down to a few sentences. This should be informed by genuine engagement with the literature. Your search can be less extensive than in a full literature review, but a clear sense of the relevant research is crucial to inform your own work. Begin by establishing the kinds of research that have been done, and end with limitations or gaps in the research that you intend to respond to. Scribbr editors not only correct grammar and spelling mistakes, but also strengthen your writing by making sure your paper is free of vague language, redundant words, and awkward phrasing.
See editing example. In an argumentative research paper, you can simply state the problem you intend to discuss, and what is original or important about your argument. In an empirical research paper, try to lead into the problem on the basis of your discussion of the literature. Think in terms of these questions:. You can make the connection between your problem and the existing research using phrases like the following. The way you frame your research objectives varies. An argumentative paper presents a thesis statement, while an empirical paper generally poses a research question sometimes with a hypothesis as to the answer. The thesis statement expresses the position that the rest of the paper will present evidence and arguments for.
It can be presented in one or two sentences, and should state your position clearly and directly, without providing specific arguments for it at this point. The research question is the question you want to answer in an empirical research paper. Present your research question clearly and directly, with a minimum of discussion at this point. The rest of the paper will be taken up with discussing and investigating this question; here you just need to express it. If your research involved testing hypotheses , these should be stated along with your research question. They are usually presented in the past tense, since the hypothesis will already have been tested by the time you are writing up your paper.
The final part of the introduction is often dedicated to a brief overview of the rest of the paper. Full examples of research paper introductions are shown in the tabs below: one for an argumentative paper, the other for an empirical paper. Are cows responsible for climate change? A recent study RIVM, shows that cattle farmers account for two thirds of agricultural nitrogen emissions in the Netherlands. These emissions result from nitrogen in manure, which can degrade into ammonia and enter the atmosphere. By comparison, road traffic and households are responsible for 6. While efforts are being made to mitigate these emissions, policymakers are reluctant to reckon with the scale of the problem. The approach presented here is a radical one, but commensurate with the issue.
This paper argues that the Dutch government must stimulate and subsidize livestock farmers, especially cattle farmers, to transition to sustainable vegetable farming. It first establishes the inadequacy of current mitigation measures, then discusses the various advantages of the results proposed, and finally addresses potential objections to the plan on economic grounds. In many cases, the introduction will be shorter than all of the other sections of your paper. A good introduction will:. Without a clear introduction, your readers will struggle. They may feel confused when they start reading your paper. They might even give up entirely. Your introduction will ground them and prepare them for the in-depth research to come.
Research paper introductions are always unique. After all, research is original by definition. However, they often contain six essential items. These are:. These six items are emphasized more or less, depending on your field. For example, a physics research paper might emphasize methodology. An English journal article might highlight the overview. We want you to learn how to make it shine. There are three things you can do that will make it easier to write a great introduction. You can:. Parenthetical phrases can help you connect with your readers. A staple of academia and the humanities, MLA formatting is the standard for citing your research sources, keeping your writing consistent, and more.
Learn why it matters. Make a good impression by writing an effective post-interview thank you email that reiterates your interest and unique qualifications. Make the writing process faster and easier by learning how to effectively brainstorm ideas.
Published on September 24, by Jack Caulfield. Revised on November 29, The introduction to a research paper is where you set up your topic and approach for the reader. It has several key goals:. The introduction looks slightly different depending on whether your paper presents the results of original empirical research or constructs an argument by engaging with a variety of sources. The five steps in this article will help you put together an effective introduction for either type of research paper. Table of contents Step 1: Introduce your topic Step 2: Describe the background Step 3: Establish your research problem Step 4: Specify your objective s Step 5: Map out your paper Research paper introduction examples Frequently asked questions about the research paper introduction.
This is generally accomplished with a strong opening hook. The hook is a striking opening sentence that clearly conveys the relevance of your topic. Think of an interesting fact or statistic, a strong statement, a question, or a brief anecdote that will get the reader wondering about your topic. For example, the following could be an effective hook for an argumentative paper about the environmental impact of cattle farming:. A more empirical paper investigating the relationship of Instagram use with body image issues in adolescent girls might use the following hook:. Clarity and relevance are still more important than catchiness. The key thing is to guide the reader into your topic and situate your ideas.
In a more empirical paper, this is the place to review previous research and establish how yours fits in. Provide only the most relevant background information. This is a sort of miniature literature review —a sketch of the current state of research into your topic, boiled down to a few sentences. This should be informed by genuine engagement with the literature. Your search can be less extensive than in a full literature review, but a clear sense of the relevant research is crucial to inform your own work. Begin by establishing the kinds of research that have been done, and end with limitations or gaps in the research that you intend to respond to.
Scribbr editors not only correct grammar and spelling mistakes, but also strengthen your writing by making sure your paper is free of vague language, redundant words, and awkward phrasing. See editing example. In an argumentative research paper, you can simply state the problem you intend to discuss, and what is original or important about your argument. In an empirical research paper, try to lead into the problem on the basis of your discussion of the literature. Think in terms of these questions:. You can make the connection between your problem and the existing research using phrases like the following. The way you frame your research objectives varies. An argumentative paper presents a thesis statement, while an empirical paper generally poses a research question sometimes with a hypothesis as to the answer.
The thesis statement expresses the position that the rest of the paper will present evidence and arguments for. It can be presented in one or two sentences, and should state your position clearly and directly, without providing specific arguments for it at this point. The research question is the question you want to answer in an empirical research paper. Present your research question clearly and directly, with a minimum of discussion at this point. The rest of the paper will be taken up with discussing and investigating this question; here you just need to express it. If your research involved testing hypotheses , these should be stated along with your research question. They are usually presented in the past tense, since the hypothesis will already have been tested by the time you are writing up your paper.
The final part of the introduction is often dedicated to a brief overview of the rest of the paper. Full examples of research paper introductions are shown in the tabs below: one for an argumentative paper, the other for an empirical paper. Are cows responsible for climate change? A recent study RIVM, shows that cattle farmers account for two thirds of agricultural nitrogen emissions in the Netherlands. These emissions result from nitrogen in manure, which can degrade into ammonia and enter the atmosphere. By comparison, road traffic and households are responsible for 6. While efforts are being made to mitigate these emissions, policymakers are reluctant to reckon with the scale of the problem.
The approach presented here is a radical one, but commensurate with the issue. This paper argues that the Dutch government must stimulate and subsidize livestock farmers, especially cattle farmers, to transition to sustainable vegetable farming. It first establishes the inadequacy of current mitigation measures, then discusses the various advantages of the results proposed, and finally addresses potential objections to the plan on economic grounds. The rise of social media has been accompanied by a sharp increase in the prevalence of body image issues among women and girls. These studies have consistently found that the visual and interactive aspects of the platform have the greatest influence on body image issues. Despite this, highly visual social media HVSM such as Instagram have yet to be robustly researched.
This paper sets out to address this research gap. We investigated the effects of daily Instagram use on the prevalence of body image issues among adolescent girls. It was hypothesized that daily Instagram use would be associated with an increase in body image concerns and a decrease in self-esteem ratings. The introduction of a research paper includes several key elements:. and your problem statement. The way you present your research problem in your introduction varies depending on the nature of your research paper. A research paper that presents a sustained argument will usually encapsulate this argument in a thesis statement. A research paper designed to present the results of empirical research tends to present a research question that it seeks to answer.
It may also include a hypothesis —a prediction that will be confirmed or disproved by your research. Caulfield, J. Writing a Research Paper Introduction Step-by-Step Guide. Have a language expert improve your writing. Proofreading Services. Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes. Plagiarism Checker. Generate accurate citations for free. Citation Generator. Home Knowledge Base Research paper Writing a Research Paper Introduction Step-by-Step Guide. Writing a Research Paper Introduction Step-by-Step Guide Published on September 24, by Jack Caulfield.
What can proofreading do for your paper? Argumentative paper Empirical paper Argumentative paper introduction Are cows responsible for climate change? Empirical paper introduction The rise of social media has been accompanied by a sharp increase in the prevalence of body image issues among women and girls. What should I include in a research paper introduction? When should I write my research paper introduction? Should I use a research question, hypothesis, or thesis statement? Is this article helpful? Jack Caulfield Jack is a Brit based in Amsterdam, with an MA in comparative literature. He writes for Scribbr about his specialist topics: grammar, linguistics, citations, and plagiarism. In his spare time, he reads a lot of books. Other students also liked. They should be specific and feasible, but complex enough to merit a detailed answer.
Writing a Research Paper Conclusion Step-by-Step Guide The conclusion of a research paper restates the research problem, summarizes your arguments or findings, and discusses the implications. Download free templates to get started. What is your plagiarism score? Scribbr Plagiarism Checker. Although x has been studied in detail, insufficient attention has been paid to y.
How to Write a Research Paper | A Beginner's Guide,Table of contents
WebA research paper introduction is an important part of a research paper as it gives the reader an overview of the topic being studied and sets the tone for the paper. It is WebFeb 1, · The introduction should be – words long and constitute around 8% to 9% of the total words. The introduction should support your research findings. WebNov 24, · The introduction to a research paper is where you set up your topic and approach for the reader. It has several key goals: Present your topic and get the reader WebAug 10, · You can: Write your introduction last. An introduction summarizes all of the things you’ve learned from your research. While it Include a strong quotation or WebThe Methods section describes exactly what you did to gather the data that you use in your paper. This should expand on the brief methodology discussion in the introduction and ... read more
STEM Writing Resources for Learning ScWRL. These are not common sentences but ones that form the entire thesis you will explore in the body paragraphs of a research project. It must be as per the instructions given to you. Knowing what to include in the introduction ensures that all crucial information is covered and nothing is excluded. What should the introduction of a paper accomplish? Did this article help you? Learn about our proofreading services Return to checklist.
An opening paragraph that attracts attention and keeps the reader engaged is the key to success with this academic work. Make the writing process faster and easier by learning how to effectively brainstorm ideas, research paper introduction help. A well-written introduction will give an overview of the paper and provides an opportunity for the reader to understand your topic better. This short guide will describe the purpose of a research paper introduction and how to create a good one. You can follow the research paper introduction help triangle" principle to focus in from the broader themes to those to which you are making a direct contribution with your paper. Download free templates to get started. Writing Tips On Starting A Research Paper Here are some valuable tips that you can follow while writing an introduction for a research paper: Ensure that the length of your introduction is not too long or short.
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