Tips on how to write a good opening paragraph Introduction and its components
A professional academic paper often needs an intriguing opening – that is, Introduction, which not only attracts readers, but also guides the direction and structure of the whole paper. So, how can you write a masterful Introduction? The author is here to deconstruct and demonstrate this process for you in detail.
First of all, you need to understand that a clear chapter structure and information organisation is essential. Following the dissertation specification, we often divide Introduction into 4 main parts and take stock of them one by one to ensure that each step matches the exact tone and focus. These steps mainly include:
I. Outline: briefly introduce the topic or area covered in the paper and introduce the sub-division;
II. Problem Orientation: identifying and specifying the core problem and objectives that this thesis wants to deal with so that the reader immediately grasps the core focus and value of the research;
III. Interpretation of the subject matter: revealing the far-reaching impact of the subject matter on people, both in terms of practical application and research context;
IV. Impact of the study: a detailed overview of the originality and potential contribution of the work, with emphasis on its novelty and revolution.
Next, you will be shown how to express these in an informative way:
I. Summary statement: Just give an example, “Since its introduction, X has proved to be a quasi-excellent disease-fighting drug, and ……” This will make clear the main problem discussed in the paper, and make it clear to the reader how you want to solve this problem.
II. Theme Interpretation: e.g. “The important properties of X have not yet been fully explored and utilised in the marketplace, which presents a great opportunity to advance the development of…” This will illustrate why it is important to delve deeper into the research and development of this topic.
III. Research Impact: You can start with previous academic results, for example, “A large number of academic studies have revealed ……”, and then flag up ideas that are still vacant or yet to be corroborated. Where your work breaks through compared to previous research also needs to be distinguished and described here.
IV. Impact of the study: Answer controversial questions such as, “What is the common problem encountered in X’s research?” Here it is important to list your strategies for solving it and where you have contributed to the frontline work, and where appropriate, highlight the differences between your research and others.
