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Introduction

Forestry 545 February 11, 2014

Dr Sue Watts, UBC Forestry

General manuscript format

Title Author(s) affiliations Abstract Introduction Materials & methods Results Discussion References

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Introduction

Your title, abstract, figures and tables provide an outline to draw your reader in

Now persuade your colleagues and co-workers to keep reading by crafting a well written introduction

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Introduction

Imagine your reader standing on the ground

You climb into a hot air balloon Your discoveries raise your knowledge level and you dropyour sand bags of ignorance

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Introduction

Your balloon rises slowly

By the time you are ready to write you have risen well above the reader

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Introduction

Is your ladder long enough?

Do you have to drop it all the way to the ground?

Are any rungs missing?

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Your job as a writer is to bridge this gap

Introduction

Your introduction will lead the reader from a well known landmark to the particular spot occupied by your paper

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Introduction

Recall the limited space for your title?

Now, finally you have a little leeway and can fully define your boundaries

Take advantage!

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Introduction

When you write a paper for class, your teacher is obliged to read it…However,When you address your research community, you have to convince them that your problem is their problem

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Introduction

You need to tell them “so what”

Why is it important to resolve the flawed understanding or incomplete knowledge that you have taken on as your research?

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Blackfly female

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Blackfly larvae and pupa

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Blackfly breeding grounds

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Blackfly mouthparts

Compound eye

Antenna

Maxilla

Mandible120-125 microns

Maxillary palp

Epidermis

Typical bite reaction

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Introduction

Your introduction must successfully explain how your paper fills a gap

(Covering letter to journal must also do this)

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Introduction

The weakest introduction merely announces a topicYou should not just say

“this paper presents the effects of Pissodes strobi on Sitka spruce leader growth

It is well known that leader development is an important aspect of spruce form”

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Introduction

Say why the work was done Make it interesting, brief and as simple as possible

Follow the 3-step procedure

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Introduction

The purpose of a 3-step introduction is to excite and interest the reader and to answer the question

“Why was this work embarked upon?”

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Introduction – 3 steps

1. Present the general field of interest

2. Present others’ findings to be challenged or expanded

3. Specify the question being asked

This should total no more than 1 pageSome journals want a brief summary of findings and conclusions at end of introduction

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Introduction – First step

1. General field of interest Why is the subject important? State what is known, give

references Do not try to cover everything One to 3 paragraphs

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Introduction – First step

Showing the importance of your work is an essential part of your introduction

In general, the less your audience knows about your subject, the more difficult it is to write the first part of your introduction

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Introduction – First step

Consider the audience of your journal and begin with a statement that all readers will accept

You MUST know the audience to be able to do this

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Introduction – First step

After stating what is known generally, describe what is known in your specific research problem

Bring your reader to an incomplete corner or hole in the available scientific reports

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Introduction – First step

Provide sufficient references so that the reader can check the literature and see what observations currently surround the hole or gap that you intend to fillNote: Cindy suggest no more than 2 citations per fact for a journal article (no restriction in thesis)

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Introduction – First step

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Introduction – First step

Word of caution It is very easy to get “carried

away” with too much background material

Provide the broad topic but be selective, focus in quickly

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Introduction – Second step

2. Present findings to be challenged Explain how you intend to extend

what is already known in your specific research area

Provide support for your argument before stating your hypothesis

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Introduction – second step

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Introduction – third step

3. Specify the question being asked After leading your readers to the edge,

state your plan of attack to fill the gap This is usually done in the form of a

hypothesis Indicate your experimental approach

to testing this hypothesis Point out what is new about your work

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Introduction – third step

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Hypothesis

When you develop a hypothesis it usually builds on something that has gone on before You must be able to test your hypothesis

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Hypothesis

A hypothesis is a reasonable expectation of results (unknown) based on known information

Avoid “see what happened” “no reports in the literature” “it seemed interesting to”

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Formulating a hypothesis

Carrot exampleYou have been asked to measure the iron content of a crop of carrots showing signs of iron deficiency

Quality of carrots has been improved by applying lime (calcium) to soil

Lime raises pH and reduces iron uptake

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Formulating a hypothesis

Healthy carrot production requires plants with lime and iron

Formulate a hypothesis for this study

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Final Hypothesis

There is a level of lime that will supply sufficient calcium and at the same time will allow the iron to be absorbed in sufficient quantities to make better carrots

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Introduction - tenses

Final note:Much of the introduction should be in present tense as you are referring to the current established knowledge relating to your research

The introduction is the place to define terms and abbreviations

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Assignment #3

Write an introduction to your research proposal

Include a title and references, properly formatted (you will learn how to do this in week #10)

Length should be about 900-1100 words

Use standard margins and double spacing

Due date March 18 (hard copy in class)40