WritingtheIntroductionofaResearchPaperTheForeignLanguageDepartmentWuyiUniversityRichardChenApril2008ResearchPaperWritingTheintroductionofapaper•Theintroductionpartofaresearchpaperisasummaryoroverviewofyourresearchpaperthatgenerallyguidesyourreader.Usually,itshouldbeconcise,yetitshouldbeabletotellyourreadersyourresearchpurpose,yourcentralorfocusedidea,themainresearcharguments,majorfindingsorfacts,theresearchscope,sometimesyourresearchquestionsandhowyouwilldevelopyourwriting.Writingshouldbegeneralinthispart.Components•Anintroductionofyourresearchpapershouldcoverthefollowingmajorelementsifnotall:•Youresearchfocusorcenter•Thepurpose,reasonsorsignificance•Majordebates,argumentsorfindings•Descriptionsofasurveyifany•Yourresearchquestionsorscope•ThewayyoudevelopyourpaperResearchfocusorcenterHaveonefocusonlyBeclearBespecificBestrongCanbeyourstatementorsimilarclaim/assertionPresentyourstance/stand/claim/assertionYourassertioncanbeputaftertheargumentsyouhavestated.Researchpurpose,reasonsorsignificanceTellyourreaderwhyyouconducttheresearchWhatarethebenefitsofyourresearchWhyyourresearchisimportantMajordebates,argumentsorfindingsPointoutthecenteredorkeydebatingpointsorargumentsinyourresearchareaPresentthemajorfindingsofotherresearchersStatetwosidesofarguments(Putyourargumentorassertion)ResearchquestionandquestionsHaveamajorresearchquestionSplitthequestionintotwoorthreeThequestioncanbeaskedbyWhyWhatHowIfyoudon’thaveaquestion,stateornarrowyourresearchfocusorareaThewaystodevelopyourpaperTellyourreadersHowmanysectionsarethereinyourpaperwhatyouwillwriteaboutinthedifferentsectionsResearchResearch