The opening paragraph of your paper will provide your readers with their initial impressions of your argument, your writing style, and the overall quality of your work. A vague, disorganized, error-filled, off-the-wall, or boring introduction will probably create a negative impression. On the other hand, a concise, engaging, and well-written introduction will start your readers off thinking highly of you, your analytical skills, your writing, and your paper.

Activity 4-1: Making the introduction interesting

Work alone or form a group. Discuss what writing devices you can offer to make the introduction more interesting to read.

My advice:

(1) _______________________________________

(3) _______________________________________

(2) _______________________________________

Activity 4-2: FAQs about the introduction

The following questions are listed as the most frequently asked questions about how to write an introduction. Please try to answer the question first by yourself, and then discuss your answers in the class.

Q1: How long should the introduction be?

A: __________________________________________________________________

Q2: When should I write the introduction part?

A: __________________________________________________________________

Q3: Can I write a tentative introduction first and then change it later?

A: __________________________________________________________________

What You should Know

The introduction is important as the first part of your essay; it sets the tone for the reader, gives some ideas of the content and the writer’s position, and suggests how the piece of work is organized. An introduction should do the following:

To alert a reader’s interest,

To indicate the scope and direction of the paper, and act as a navigation guide to its reading,

To show the reader how you are interpreting and approaching the question,

To provide a context for the main issue,

To indicate the focus of the paper,

To indicate your conclusion and point of view.

Usually an introduction will contain the following: a) Introduction to the topic of your study; b) Background information about your topic; c) Justification for your choice of topic focus; d) Outline of the structure of the essay; e) Definition of key terms related to the topic; f) Thesis statement (Your view point or perspective); and g) Your purpose in writing the essay.

Introductions can be the most difficult parts of papers to write. Students can take the following steps as suggested:

Announce your topic broadly,

Provide any background material important to your argument,

Define key terms,

State your thesis statement,

Outline the structure of your writing.

Finally, the introduction should capture your readers’ interest, making them want to read the rest of your paper. Opening with a compelling story, a fascinating quotation, an interesting question, or a stirring example can get your readers to see why this topic matters and serve as an invitation for them to join you for an interesting intellectual conversation.

Language Focus

The Language of Introductions

Introduction to topic

Rhetorical questions

e.g., But how does a company become a global company?

Are there benefits to becoming a global company?

Background information

After World War II... However, today... This is mostly...

Over the past decade ... have led to...

Outline of structure

This essay will first demonstrate... and then the extent to which ... will be examined by looking at some examples.

The issue of ... including examining why ... will be discussed in this project.

First ... will be addressed. Then ... will be examined. In the final part, ... will be explored.

The essay will first explain...

Finally, a case study ... will be considered.

Definition of key terms

“Global” means ...

“Globalization” is defined as ...

Writer’s purpose

This project will examine how...

(McCormack, Joan & Slaght, John, 2009 )

Assignment

1.Read the introduction part of the academic article titled A Study of the Effects of Content-Based Instruction for English Majors in the Chinese Context (See Appendix 1). Study the structure of its introduction section, and identify the key features.

2.Practice definition: Define the following terms by any (or the combination) of the ways: formal definition, expansion, and comment.

(1) heroism

(2) low-context/high-context culture

(3) language acquisition device

(4) domestication / foreignization

3.Here are some scrambled sentences taken from the introduction part of an article entitled “Learning from the perspective of the comprehender”. Use appropriate words and expressions to put them into a cohesive piece.

This analysis has implications for understanding why some people learn more effectively than others and forcreating programs designed to help people learn how to learn.

We argue that people may differ in the degree to which they spontaneously activate knowledge that provides a basis for comprehension.

We illustrate how language comprehension depends on the activation of relevant knowledge.

This paper is to explore some of the cognitive activities that people must engage in to comprehend and remember information that is communicated through language.

4.Look at your most recent written work, for example, the term paper of a course you took last semester, and focus specifically on the Introduction section. Use what you have learned from this unit to improve your writing.