Part 1
How to structure an introduction?
The introduction takes up 10-15 per cent of the total length and is best kept between
It is best to keep it between 400-500 words. Following the four-part framework of “beginning, middle and end” and the principle of “funnel” paragraph arrangement, we will analyse the commonly used structural content paradigms for you, and help you master the skills of writing introduction easily.
Beginning
①Overview of the research area and background introduction (1 paragraph)
● Closely related to the focus of the study, explaining in detail in all aspects and layer by layer.
●Detailed description of existing research results, demonstration of research tools and methods, and evaluation of the conclusions drawn.
● General journals need to provide detailed background knowledge to facilitate understanding by non-specialists.
Specialised journals should be concise, precise and relevant to the topic.
Undertake
②Description of deeper areas of research and research gaps
● Analyse the current situation of a particular research point, and emphasise the importance, necessity, urgency and limitations of the current research focus.
●Research gaps include: inadequacies of existing research, answers and verification of the correctness of research, and additions to existing research.
●Solutions include: technological innovation, database updating, experimental protocol improvement; in-depth exploration of substances, functions, mechanisms, and phenomena.
Turn
③Present the scientific problem and the scientific hypothesis, purpose of this paper (1 paragraph)
●Explain the purpose and importance of the research in this paper, and propose solutions specifically for the research gaps.
● Focus on the concerns of readers, editors and reviewers.
④ Research methodology and research results (1 paragraph)
● The results of the research revealed by the use of certain techniques, methods, and experiments.
(1 paragraph) ●The results of the study revealed by using a technique, method, or experiment.
⑤ Conclusion and significance of this study (1 paragraph)
●Conclusion: succinctly and quickly summarise the experimental results of this paper.
●Source of significance: theoretical innovation, practical application, understanding of laws, social development, environmental protection, resource conservation and other directions.
● Focus on the concerns of readers, editors and reviewers.
Part II
Typical Phrases and Sentence Patterns of Introduction Writing
In accordance with the framework of “beginning, middle and end”, we summarise the common expressions used in writing abstracts for your reference.
● scientific question and scientific hypothesis, purpose of the paper
● new discoveries/findings
objectives and implications
Research methodology and results
● detailed results/analysis of XXX by using
YY
● confirm that
Conclusions and implications of this study
● indicate that
● establish a central role of XXX.
Part III
Tips for Writing Introductions
Although there is a fixed structure for introductions, there are still many tips and easy-to-error points, have you noticed them?
The common tenses of introductions are past tense, present tense and present perfect tense. The past tense is mainly used to introduce others’ completed research findings and their research methods, while the present tense and present perfect tense methodically summarise your own new findings, highlighting the innovation and research significance of your paper.
Overview of the research area and description of the background
● significant progress was the discovery that YY
and facilitates ZZZ
● many studies have focused on
● past results suggest that
● determinant factor/influencer/driver
● Description of research areas of deepening and research gaps
● Recent findings indicate that XXX, demonstrating its capacity to mediate YYY.
● Biochemical and genetic studies suggest an imperative role of XXX.
● conversely, limited emphasis has been placed on XXX.
● escalating evidence suggests that
● substantial evidence indicates that
● nonetheless, our comprehension of XXX mechanism
leading from XXX to YwY remains elusive.
● notably, how XXX regulates YYY, and what ZZz possibly
notably, how XXX regulates YYY, and what ZZz possibly underlie this regulation, have been scarcely explored.
● despite the burgeoning interest in the role of XXX, only limited focus has been given to the influence of YYY, and the role of ZZz in the regulation of YwY.
In the background introduction, evaluate the work of others fairly and objectively, avoiding subjectivity. ● Encounters its own generalisations, clearly articulates new findings, and highlights the paper’s innovative outlook and research significance.
