August 10, 2021 Show
Beginnings are hard. Beginning a research paper is no exception. Many students—and pros—struggle with how to write an introduction for a research paper. This short guide will describe the purpose of a research paper introduction and how to create a good one.
What is an introduction for a research paper?Introductions to research papers do a lot of work. It may seem obvious, but introductions are always placed at the beginning of a paper. They guide your reader from a general subject area to the narrow topic that your paper covers. They also explain your paper’s:
Your introduction will cover a lot of ground. However, it will only be half of a page to a few pages long. The length depends on the size of your paper as a whole. In many cases, the introduction will be shorter than all of the other sections of your paper. Why is an introduction vital to a research paper?The introduction to your research paper isn’t just important. It’s critical. Your readers don’t know what your research paper is about from the title. That’s where your introduction comes in. 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. What should you include in an introduction for a research paper?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. Three tips for writing your introductionWe don’t just want you to learn how to write an introduction for a research paper. 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:
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