Topic 2: The Introduction Section

(i) An Overview of the Introduction;

(ii) Information Conventions (Three suggested stages);
(iii) Language Conventions:
(a) Generic Noun Phrases
(b) Specific Noun Phrases
(c) Differentiating between Generic and
Specific Noun Phrases
(iv) Checking your Literature Review Knowledge
(v) Articles and Complex Prepositional /Noun Phrases
(vi) Citation Patterns

(vii) Lecturer helps students identify the kinds of information that can be found in the Introduction
section/s that they have collected. This is an exercise in which students' answers are to be
included in the project paper.
(viii) Lecturer guides students in writing the Introduction section/s of their project paper/s. This is part
of the project paper to be submitted later. Students may refer to part (a) of the notes
concerning the Introduction section of the project paper.
(ix) Citation Verb Tense and Aspect

Resource 2.1: The Introduction SectionFile

Read the Introduction section of this paper, and answer the questions inActivity 2.1.

Activity 2.1Forum

Activity 2.1

(i) Read paragraph 1 (on page 137 of this paper). Identify one sentence which establishes a
territory (via a topic generalization) in Move 1.

(ii) Give an example (from paragraph 1) that is an integral citation. What reporting verb is
used in the integral citation? Is the verb in the simple present or the simple past?

(iii) Provide two examples of non-integral citations in paragraph 1. Are reporting verbs
used in the non- integral citations in paragraph 1 as well? Give two examples. Are
these reporting verbs in the simple present, the simple past or the present perfect?

(iv) Read the first paragraph of the Introduction section more carefully. Give examples of
generic noun phrases which are often used to establish a territory via a topic
generalisation.

(v) Read paragraph 1 (on page 137 of this paper) again. Find one sentence that establishes a
niche by indicating a gap in past research. What type of gap is addressed here?
(Refer to the four types of gaps explained in this course.)
(vi) On page 138, the writers say that "it should be noted, though, that this theoretical
model has been criticized for overlooking many psychological constructs that are
quite large (e.g., occupational interests, Su, Rounds, & Armstrong, 2009), for
creating the impression that psychological sex differences are categorical, that is,
an all or none issue (Lippa, 2006), and for being based on inadequate methodology
(Del Giudice, Booth, & Irwing, 2012). What type of research gap do the writers
refer to?

(vii) On page 138, the writers say that "The results from previous comparisons of boys' and
girls' performance in PISA assessments, and especially how differences in
performance might be related to differences in gender equality measures (below)
are confusing to say the least and "some studies, published in highly visible
journals, conclude that there is a link between sex differences on the PISA and
national gender equality policies (Else-Quest et al., 2010; Guiso et al., 2008; Hyde
& Mertz, 2009; Reilly, 2012),whereas others do not find such a link (Fryer &
Levitt, 2010; Kane &Mertz, 2012; Stoet& Geary, 2013). What type of research
gap do the writers indicate in these sentences?
(viii) Read the last paragraph of the introduction. Quote one sentence that states the purpose
of this study. Are objective-related nouns used in this paragraph to indicate the
purpose of this study? What verbs are used to indicate the purpose of this study?