Your introduction is your chance to get your reader interested in your subject. Accordingly, the tone of the paragraph has to be just right. You want to inform, but not to the point of being dull; you want to intrigue, but not to the point of being vague; you want to take a strong stance, but not to the point of alienating your reader.
Studies show that many students and researchers find it difficult in writing a satisfactory introduction. Here is some advice on what steps to go through in writing the introduction section.
1. Announce your topic broadly
One strategy to start is to use a similar model in your own introduction—start off with a big picture and then declare your particular take. For example, if you are interested in talking about the narrator in Virginia Woolf’s novels, you might begin by saying that Woolf’s narrator has posed a problem for many of her critics; provide a quick definition of the problem, as others have defined it; and declare your thesis (which states your own position on the matter).
2. Provide any background material important to your argument
Providing background information or other contextualizing material shows how your topic fits into a broader framework, and what approach you are taking. By doing this, you can point your readers in the direction you want them to go; you can also show them why the topic is significant.
Activity 3-1: Providing background material
Suppose that you are writing a paper on the characterization of Jane Austin’s novel Pride and Prejudice. Please decide for yourself what background information you will address in the introduction part.
The related background information I want to address in my introduction includes:
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(3)______________________________________________________________
(4)______________________________________________________________
Notes
Keep in mind, however, that even a “big picture” opening needs to be clearly related to your topic. For example, an opening sentence that said “Human beings, more than any other creatures on earth, are capable of learning” would be too broad for an assignment about slavery and education. Try to be “brief” and “relevant” to the topic. Don’t give your reader too much context— give just enough (often only a couple of sentences is ample for a 1500-2000 word assignment) to place the key issue of your assignment in its context.
3. Define key terms
Define key terms, as you intend to make use of them in your argument. If, for example, you are writing a philosophy paper on the nature of reality, it is absolutely essential that you define the term for your reader. How do you understand the term “reality,”in the context of this paper? Empirically? Rationally? Begin with a definition of terms, and from there work towards the declaration of your argument.
Activity 3-2: How to define terms
Please look at the two example definitions below. Discuss with your classmates how the term is defined in each example.
Example 1
The term “globalization” holds considerable interest. It refers to “the increasing integration of economies around the world, particularly through trade and financial flows”(Oxford Advanced Learner Dictionary 2001). The term can also refer to the movement of people (labour) and knowledge (technology) across international borders. Globalization can help countries get rid of the barriers to the inflow of technology, capital, human resources and products. Generally, globalization makes the above more available, especially the accessibility of products. It can also speed up the development of foreign trade.
Example 2
A global company can be defined as a corporation consisting of a group of people who run a business in different countries as one body (Uniglobe 2002). A global company is different from a non-global company. There are three main differences between a global company and a non-global company. First of all, a global company should introduce its same-brand products worldwide at the same time. Secondly, a global company must inform its subsidiaries around the world of major management decisions. Thirdly, each subsidiary of the global company based in a different country must compete at a national level by taking local preferences into consideration.
Questions for discussion
(1) How is the term “globalization” defined in the first example?
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(2) How is the term “a global company” defined in the second example?
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(3) Do you find any similarity/difference in the way the term is defined in these two examples?
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(4) Underline the words/expressions that are used to define terms. Do you know any other useful phrases?
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Notes
In defining a term, there are usually three aspects to cover: (1) a formal definition, e.g. from a dictionary or expert in the field; (2) an expansion of the definition with explanation and/or examples; (3) a comment on the definition by the writer. It may not be necessary to include all these three features, but usually the first two will be covered.
It is also recommended that an acknowledged source of reference is used, e.g. a dictionary or a recognized authority in the field. However, it is also important to comment on the definition, especially if you are looking at several sources with differing definitions. If you refer to more than one definition, it is important to clearly state which definition you prefer.
4. State your thesis statement
The thesis statement is one sentence (or more if the assignment is long and complex) which explicitly states the focus and direction of the writing. This sentence tells the reader exactly what to expect in the essay, as well as showing how you have gathered your information and what conclusion you will come to.
Activity 3-3: A discussion on the thesis statement
Please read Sample Introduction 1 & 2 in Activity 2-1 and Activity 2-2. Discuss the questions as follows.
(1) Underline the thesis statement of each introduction.
(2) Where does the thesis statement appear in each example?
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(3) Circle the useful expressions/verbs that appear in each thesis statement. Can you think of other useful expression you may want to use when you are writing the thesis statement?
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5. Outline the structure of your writing
Your introduction is an important road map for the rest of your paper. In the introduction section, you explain to your reader and let them know what your topic is, why it is important, and how you plan to proceed with your discussion. It is also important to show what specific areas your writing will cover. After reading your introduction, your readers should not have any major surprises in store when they read the main body of your paper.
Activity 3-4: Outlining the structure
The following section is taken partly from the introduction part of a student’s academic paper. Read it carefully and answer the following questions.
My paper is divided into five chapters. In Chapter One, I introduce briefly the historical development of intercultural communications, define the key terms that will be referred to and described the link between language and culture. In Chapter Two, I give a general review of the theoretical concepts related to my study, with the focus on the notion of body language. In Chapter Three, I examined the rules of body language in both English and Chinese culture. In Chapter Four, I compare and discuss the similarities and differences between the use of body language in Chinese and English culture. Finally, in Chapter Five, I summarize the main findings of the study and put forward some suggestions for future studies.
(1) How does the paragraph offer an outline of the structure of the entire writing?
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(2) Underline the expressions/verbs the writer use when he outlines the structure. Can you think of other useful expressions/verb phrases that can be used?
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(3) Apparently the writer of this paragraph used “I + verb” sentence structure many times when he outlines. Can you change some sentence patterns to make them less monotonous?
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