how_to_write_an_introduction

8/8/2019 how_to_write_an_introduction

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Just the plain facts!Just the plain facts!PRESENTATION SERIESPRESENTATION SERIES

How to write an introductionHow to write an introduction

Nicholas G. Ashby 2004Nicholas G. Ashby 2004


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GeneralGeneralThe purpose of an introduction is to prepareThe purpose of an introduction is to preparethe reader for the body of writing that comesthe reader for the body of writing that comesafter it.after it.

You know what you are writing about and why. You know what you are writing about and why.But unless you inform your readers of this in anBut unless you inform your readers of this in anintroduction, they will feel lost and judge yourintroduction, they will feel lost and judge youressay to be an unclear piece of work!essay to be an unclear piece of work!


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A good introduction: A good introduction:indicates the topic that the essay is about indicates the topic that the essay is about describes how the body of the essay isdescribes how the body of the essay isorganizedorganizedexplains the point of writing the essay;explains the point of writing the essay;the point of writing an essay is usually tothe point of writing an essay is usually toargue for a thesis, so you will need toargue for a thesis, so you will need toexplain what thesis you argue for and howexplain what thesis you argue for and how

you argue for it you argue for it this is called athis is called athesisthesis--statement, and most essaystatement, and most essayintroductions include one.introductions include one.


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F irst exampleF irst exampleS uppose you had to write a ten page essayS uppose you had to write a ten page essayonon the topic of whether bodythe topic of whether body--checkingcheckingshould be banned in junior iceshould be banned in junior ice- -hockey.hockey. You Youdid your research and found that there aredid your research and found that there areseveral main arguments for and against aseveral main arguments for and against aban. In the body of your essay youban. In the body of your essay you

described and evaluated these arguments,described and evaluated these arguments,and determined that arguments for a banand determined that arguments for a banare stronger than arguments against a ban.are stronger than arguments against a ban.

Now you must write your introduction!Now you must write your introduction!


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F irst exampleF irst exampleH ere is how someone new to academicH ere is how someone new to academicessays may write the introduction (theessays may write the introduction (thetopictopic--sentence is in red, essay structure insentence is in red, essay structure inblue, thesis in yellow):blue, thesis in yellow):

This essay is about the issue of bodyThis essay is about the issue of body- -checking inchecking in junior ice junior ice- -hockey.hockey. First, arguments for a ban onFirst, arguments for a ban onbodybody--checking are examined. S econd, argumentschecking are examined. S econd, arguments

against a ban are discussed.against a ban are discussed. It is shown that proIt is shown that pro- -ban arguments are stronger than antiban arguments are stronger than anti- -banbanarguments. Therefore, the thesis of this essay isarguments. Therefore, the thesis of this essay isthat bodythat body- -checking in junior icechecking in junior ice- -hockey should behockey should be

banned.banned.


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D iscussion of first exampleD iscussion of first exampleThis introduction is all right so far as it goes.This introduction is all right so far as it goes.It is better to have an introduction that It is better to have an introduction that includes the three important elementsincludes the three important elements((topictopic ,, structurestructure ,, thesisthesis ) than to have one) than to have onethat does not.that does not. Many people start out byMany people start out bywriting essays with introductions like thiswriting essays with introductions like this

one.one. It does have the virtue of being clear,It does have the virtue of being clear,and clarity is essential.and clarity is essential. But let us review it But let us review it to see if it can be improved.to see if it can be improved.


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D iscussion of first exampleD iscussion of first example

The structureThe structure- -sentences are fine.sentences are fine.Notice that words such asNotice that words such as first first andand secondsecondare useful in helping to describe how theare useful in helping to describe how thebody of an essay is organized.body of an essay is organized.

However, if you can convey the structure of

However, if you can convey the structure of your essay without using too manyyour essay without using too many

organizational words, that is even better.organizational words, that is even better.


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The topicThe topic--sentence could be improved.sentence could be improved.Rather than writing: Rather than writing: This essay is aboutThis essay is aboutit would be better to write a few topicit would be better to write a few topic- -sentences that convey a sense of thesentences that convey a sense of thecurrent state of the topic.current state of the topic. This not onlyThis not only

tells the reader what the topic is but it alsotells the reader what the topic is but it alsogives the impression that you aregives the impression that you areknowledgeable about the topic and inknowledgeable about the topic and in

command of your research material.command of your research material.


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The thesisThe thesis- -sentences could be better.sentences could be better.Instead of writing: Instead of writing: Therefore, the thesis of Therefore, the thesis of this essay isthis essay is simply give a bold, factualsimply give a bold, factualsentence that expresses your position onsentence that expresses your position onthe issue.the issue. This conveys an air of confidence,This conveys an air of confidence,

unlike the phrase unlike the phrase the thesis of thisthe thesis of thisessayessay which is timid and non which is timid and non- -committal.committal.


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Second exampleSecond exampleThe introduction on the next slide takesThe introduction on the next slide takesthese points into account. Compare it withthese points into account. Compare it withthe previous introduction andthe previous introduction and note hownote how

wording the three main elements differentlywording the three main elements differentlycan improve the impact that the introductioncan improve the impact that the introductionhas on the reader.has on the reader.


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D iscussion of second exampleD iscussion of second exampleIn this second introduction, theIn this second introduction, the topictopic--

sentencessentences give an impression of the current give an impression of the current state of the topic (and, so, convey the topicstate of the topic (and, so, convey the topicof the essay to the reader) without usingof the essay to the reader) without using

the wordsthe words essayessay oror topictopic . The. The structurestructure- -sentencessentences inform the reader of the maininform the reader of the mainparts of the body of the essay and theirparts of the body of the essay and theirorder of discussion (views of fans,order of discussion (views of fans,H ockey Canada, and scientific community)H ockey Canada, and scientific community)without using many organizational words.without using many organizational words.


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D iscussion of second exampleD iscussion of second exampleTheThe thesisthesis--sentencessentences tell the reader wheretell the reader whereyou stand on the issue and how you arrivedyou stand on the issue and how you arrivedat your position (through evaluation of theat your position (through evaluation of the

main arguments for and against a ban),main arguments for and against a ban),without including words such aswithout including words such as essayessay ororthesis.thesis.


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D iscussion of second exampleD iscussion of second exampleThis second introduction gives the reader theThis second introduction gives the reader theimpression that you are knowledgeable on theimpression that you are knowledgeable on thetopic, and that doing the research has led youtopic, and that doing the research has led youto an intelligent, informed thesis.to an intelligent, informed thesis. Why didn t Why didn t the first introduction have the same effect?the first introduction have the same effect?


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D iscussion of second exampleD iscussion of second exampleThe reason is that within the context of anThe reason is that within the context of anessay introduction, words likeessay introduction, words like essayessay ,,topictopic andand thesisthesis make it seem as if theremake it seem as if thereis a gap between you, the writer, and theis a gap between you, the writer, and the

essay. This gives the impression that theessay. This gives the impression that theconcerns about and position on the issueconcerns about and position on the issuemay not bemay not be youryour concerns and positionconcerns and position (only(only

the essay s!). Notice that the secondthe essay s!). Notice that the secondintroduction gives the impression that thereintroduction gives the impression that thereis no gap, and that you areis no gap, and that you are expressingexpressing

yourself through the essay.yourself through the essay.


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Practice!Practice!Practice writing introductions without usingPractice writing introductions without usingphrases such as phrases such as the topic of this essaythe topic of this essayor or the thesis argued for isthe thesis argued for is Expressing Expressingthe topic without using words likethe topic without using words like topictopic ororsubject subject may be particularly challengingmay be particularly challengingbecause it is easy to include too much detailbecause it is easy to include too much detail

and end up with an unintended bodyand end up with an unintended body- -paragraph. But with practice, you will beparagraph. But with practice, you will beable to write more effective introductions.able to write more effective introductions.


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F requently asked questionsF requently asked questions1. How long should my introduction be?1. How long should my introduction be?O ne common mistake is to write anO ne common mistake is to write anintroduction that is too long; the introductionintroduction that is too long; the introductionis so detailed that it is indistinguishable fromis so detailed that it is indistinguishable from

the body of the essay!the body of the essay! As a rule, an As a rule, anintroduction should not be longer than about introduction should not be longer than about 8% of the length of the essay.8% of the length of the essay. For For example,example,the introduction of a ten, fifteen, and twentythe introduction of a ten, fifteen, and twenty- -page essay should be a maximum of about apage essay should be a maximum of about apage, apage, a page and a quarter, and one and apage and a quarter, and one and ahalf pages respectively.half pages respectively.


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F requently asked questionsF requently asked questions2. How detailed should the introduction2. How detailed should the introductionbe?be?

Another common mistake is that the Another common mistake is that theintroduction is so detailed that it fails tointroduction is so detailed that it fails toindicate the topic of the essay in a clearindicate the topic of the essay in a clearway!way! The introduction only needs to stateThe introduction only needs to statethe topic, general structure, and thesis of thethe topic, general structure, and thesis of the

essay. The longer the essay is supposed toessay. The longer the essay is supposed tobe, the more detailed your topic, structurebe, the more detailed your topic, structureand thesisand thesis- -sentences can be.sentences can be.


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F requently asked questionsF requently asked questions3. Why am I finding it hard to write the3. Why am I finding it hard to write theintroduction?introduction?The introduction must indicate the topic,The introduction must indicate the topic,structure and thesis of the essay.structure and thesis of the essay. If you areIf you arenot completely sure about any of thesenot completely sure about any of thesethings, you will find it hard or eventhings, you will find it hard or evenimpossible to write an introduction.impossible to write an introduction. Writer sWriter s

block can happen when you try to write theblock can happen when you try to write theintroduction before you have done sufficient introduction before you have done sufficient reading and research on the topic.reading and research on the topic.


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F requently asked questionsF requently asked questions3. Why am I finding it hard to write the3. Why am I finding it hard to write theintroduction (continued)?introduction (continued)?H ow can you know what the structure of H ow can you know what the structure of

your essay will be until you have written at your essay will be until you have written at least a draft of the body? H ow can youleast a draft of the body? H ow can youknow what your thesis will be until you haveknow what your thesis will be until you have

done the reading and research?!done the reading and research?! To saveTo savetime, always write the introduction last.time, always write the introduction last.


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F requently asked questionsF requently asked questions4. What is an introduction for? Is it a4. What is an introduction for? Is it asummary?summary?

An introduction is not a summary. A An introduction is not a summary. A

summary repeats the main ideas of ansummary repeats the main ideas of anessay.essay. An introduction introduces the reader An introduction introduces the readerto the topic of the essay, describes theto the topic of the essay, describes the

organizational structure of the essay, andorganizational structure of the essay, andexplains the point of the essay (the thesisexplains the point of the essay (the thesisargued for).argued for).


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F requently asked questionsF requently asked questions5. What should I put in my introduction?5. What should I put in my introduction?D o not try to pack everything into theD o not try to pack everything into theintroduction. It would then not be anintroduction. It would then not be anintroduction at all!introduction at all! An essay introduction An essay introductiondoes not need to do more than tell thedoes not need to do more than tell thereader the topic of the essay, describe howreader the topic of the essay, describe how

the body of the essay is organized, andthe body of the essay is organized, andexplain the thesis that you argue for in theexplain the thesis that you argue for in theessay.essay.


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F requently asked questionsF requently asked questions6. How many paragraphs should I use6. How many paragraphs should I usefor the introduction?for the introduction?The introduction needs to indicate the topic,The introduction needs to indicate the topic,structure, and thesis of the essay for thestructure, and thesis of the essay for the

reader.reader. In a short ten page essay, all of In a short ten page essay, all of these things should be easy to include in onethese things should be easy to include in oneor two paragraphs. In longer essays, youror two paragraphs. In longer essays, your

topic, structure, and thesistopic, structure, and thesis- -sentences will besentences will bemore detailed, and so more paragraphs maymore detailed, and so more paragraphs maybe required to complete the introduction.be required to complete the introduction.


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Other sources and resourcesOther sources and resourcesMake an appointment for the Bethune Writing CentreMake an appointment for the Bethune Writing Centre(go to Master s office at 205 Bethune to book a slot,(go to Master s office at 205 Bethune to book a slot,or call 416 736 2100 ext. 22035)or call 416 736 2100 ext. 22035)

Visit York Centre for Academic Writing online resources Visit York Centre for Academic Writing online resourcesat:at: http://www.arts.yorku.ca/caw/resources.htmlhttp://www.arts.yorku.ca/caw/resources.html

The following books may be useful:The following books may be useful:H acker, D . (2003).H acker, D . (2003). A Canadian writer s reference A Canadian writer s reference(2(2 ndnd ed.). S carborough, O nt.: Nelson Thomsoned.). S carborough, O nt.: Nelson ThomsonLearning.Learning. Call number: PE 1408 H 293Call number: PE 1408 H 293

Finbogason, J., & Valleau, Al (2002).Finbogason, J., & Valleau, Al (2002). A Canadian A Canadianwriter s pocket guidewriter s pocket guide (2(2 ndnd ed.). S carborough, O nt.:ed.). S carborough, O nt.:Thomson/Nelson.Thomson/Nelson. Call number: PE 1408 F45Call number: PE 1408 F45


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Other sources and resourcesOther sources and resourcesTroyka, Lynn Quitman (2002).Troyka, Lynn Quitman (2002). Simon & Schuster handbookSimon & Schuster handbook

for writersfor writers (3(3rdrd

ed.). Scarborough, O nt.: Prenticeed.). Scarborough, O nt.: Prentice- -H all.H all.Call number:Call number: PE 1408 T697PE 1408 T697

For science students writing a scientific report, theFor science students writing a scientific report, the

requirements of the introduction are slightly different requirements of the introduction are slightly different from those stated here. The following book will befrom those stated here. The following book will beparticularly useful:particularly useful:

Day, Robert A. (1998).

Day, Robert A. (1998). How to write & publish a scientificHow to write & publish a scientificpaperpaper (5(5 thth ed.). Phoenix, Arizona: The O ryx Press.ed.). Phoenix, Arizona: The O ryx Press.

Call number:Call number: T11 D 33T11 D 33

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