Lecture #3:How to write an Introduction Section

1.What is an Introduction

• Definition：A beginning section which states the purpose and goals of the following writing.
• function:
  • Definition and notation to understand the paper are presented here.
  • Answer three basic questions:
    • what is the subject about?
    • Why I carried out the experiment,that is to say,what is the problem?
    • How do we solve the problem?

2.How to Write an Introduction

2.1 Guidelines

• 1.It should presents first,with all possible clarity,the nature and scope of the target problem.
• 2.It should briefly review the pertinent literature to orient（指明方向） the reader.Identify the gap in the literature that the current research was intended to address.
• 3.It should make clear the objective of the research.
• 4.It should state the method of the investigation.
• 5.A good practice is to end the introduction by stating the principal results and the pricipal conclusions suggested by the results.

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2.2 Content and structural layout

The content of Introduction.

Structural Layout

• The first layer
  • 1.1 Introducing the general research area including its background,importance,and present level of development.
  • 1.2 Reviewing previous research in this area.
• The second layer
  • 2.Indicating the problem that has not been solved by previous research,raising a relevant question.(use “however”,“although",“despite”,“though”,“but”)
• The third layer
  • 3.1 Specifying the purpose of your research.
  • 3.2 Explaining and justifying the proposed/chose method.
• The fourth layer
  • 4.1 Announcing your major results/findings.
  • 4.2 Outlining the contents of your paper.

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2.3 Tense in Introduction

• Simple Present Tense: Used when stating generalizations or conclusions.
• Present Perfect Tense: Used when describing recent advances in a certain research field, or aiming to emphasize the impact of something happening recently on the present.
• Past Simple Tense:Used when describing what you did and your contribution(this may also be expressed using the present simple or future simple tense)

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3.Tips

• The introdcution should be concise and clear.
• Provide the most salient(最重要的) background rather than an exhaustive review.
• Ensure that the literature cited is balanced,up to date and relevant.
• Be sure your readers are convinced of the importance of your question,but don’t overdo it.
• Never minimize or dismiss contributions made by others(be objective)