How to Write a Research

Introduction
Co-authored by Megan Morgan

In this Article:Article SummaryIntroducing the Topic of the PaperEstablishing the Context for Your PaperSpecifying

Your Research Questions and HypothesisResearch Introduction HelpCommunity Q&A17 References

The introduction to a research paper can be the most challenging part of the paper to
write. The length of the introduction will vary depending on the type of research paper
you are writing. An introduction should announce your topic, provide context and a
rationale for your work, before stating your research questions and hypothesis. Well-
written introductions set the tone for the paper, catch the reader's interest, and
communicate the hypothesis or thesis statement.

Part1
Introducing the Topic of the Paper
1.
 1
Announce your research topic. You can start your introduction with a few sentences
which announce the topic of your paper and give an indication of the kind of research
questions you will be asking. This is a good way to introduce your readers to your topic
and pique their interest.[1] The first few sentences should act as an indication of a
broader problem which you will then focus in on more closely in the rest of your
introduction, leading to your specific research questions.
 In scientific papers this is sometimes known as an "inverted triangle", where you start
with the broadest material at the start, before zooming in on the specifics.[2]
  The sentence "Throughout the 20th century, our views of life on other planets have
drastically changed" introduces a topic, but does so in broad terms.
 It provides the reader with an indication of the content of the essay and encourages
them to read on.
2.

2
Consider referring to key words. When you write a research paper for publication you
will be required to submit it along with a series of key words which give a quick
indication of the areas of research you are addressing.You may also have certain key
words in your title which you want to establish and emphasise in your introduction.[3]
  For example, if you were writing a paper about the behaviour of mice when exposed to
a particular substance, you would include the word "mice", and the scientific name of
the relevant compound in the first sentences.[4]
 If you were writing a history paper about the impact of the First World War on gender
relations in Britain, you should mention those key words in your first few lines.
3.

3
Define any key terms or concepts. It may be necessary for you to clarify any key
terms or concepts early on in your introduction. You need to express yourself clearly
 throughout your paper so if you leave an unfamiliar term or concept unexplained you
risk your readers not having a clear understanding of your argument.[5]
 This is especially important if you are attempting to develop a new conceptualization
that uses language and terminology your readers may be unfamiliar with.
4.

4
Introduce the topic through an anecdote or quotation. If you are writing a
humanities or social science essay you can find more literary ways to begin your
introduction and announce the topic of your paper. It is common for humanities essays
in particular to begin with an illustrative anecdote or quotation that points to the topic of
 the research. This is a variation of the "inverted triangle" technique and can generate
interest in your paper in a more imaginative way and demonstrate an engaging writing
style.
 If you use an anecdote ensure that is short and highly relevant for your research. It has
to function in the same way as an alternative opening, namely to announce the topic of
your research paper to your reader.
 For example, if you were writing a sociology paper about re-offending rates among
young offenders, you could include a brief story of one person whose story reflects and
introduces your topic.
 This kind of approach is generally not appropriate for the introduction to a natural or
physical sciences research paper where the writing conventions are different.

2
Part

Establishing the Context for Your Paper

1.
 1
Include a brief literature review. Depending on the overall length of your paper, it will
be necessary to include a review of the existing literature already published in the field.
This is an important element of your paper which demonstrates that you have a strong
knowledge and understanding of the debates and scholarship in your area. You should
aim to indicate that you have a broad knowledge, but that you are engaging in the
specific debates most relevant to your own research.
 It is important to be concise in the introduction, so provide an overview on recent
developments in the primary research rather than a lengthy discussion. [6]
  You can follow the "inverted triangle" principle to focus in from the broader themes to
those to which you are making a direct contribution with your paper.
 A strong literature review presents important background information to your own
research and indicates the importance of the field.[7]
2.

2
Use the literature to focus in on your contribution. A concise but comprehensive
literature review can be a very effective way to frame your own research paper. As you
develop your introduction, you can move from the literature to focus in on your own
work and its position relevant to the broader scholarship.
  By making clear reference to existing work you can demonstrate explicitly the specific
contribution you are making to move the field forward.
 You can identify a gap in the existing scholarship and explain how you are addressing it
and moving understanding forward.[8]
3.

3
Elaborate on the rationale of your paper. Once you have framed your work within a
broader context you can elaborate more fully on the rationale of your research and its
particular strengths and importance. The rationale should clearly and concisely indicate
the value of your paper and its contribution to the field.[9] Try to go beyond saying that
 you are filling a gap in the scholarship and emphasise the positive contribution of your
work.
 For example, if you are writing a scientific paper you could stress the merits of the
experimental approach or models you have used.
 Stress what is novel in your research and the significance of your new approach, but
don't give too much detail in the introduction.[10]
 A stated rationale could be something like: "the study evaluates the previously unknown
anti-inflammatory effects of a topical compound in order to evaluate its potential clinical
uses".

Part3
Specifying Your Research Questions and Hypothesis
1.
 1
State your research questions. Once you have indicated where your research sits in
the field and the general rationale for your paper, you can specify the research
questions the paper addresses. The literature review and rationale frames your
research and introduces your research question. This question should be developed
fluently from the earlier parts of the introduction and shouldn't come as a surprise to the
reader.[11]
 The research question or questions generally come towards the end of the introduction,
and should be concise and closely focused.[12]
 The research question might recall some of the key words established in the first few
sentences and the title of your paper.
 An example of a research question could be "what were the consequences of the North
American Free Trade Agreement on the Mexican export economy?"
 This could be honed further to be specific by referring to a particular element of the Free
Trade Agreement and the impact on a particular industry in Mexico, such as clothing
manufacture.
 A good research question should shape a problem into a testable hypothesis.
2.
 2
Indicate your hypothesis. After you have specified your research questions you need
to give a clear and concise articulation of your hypothesis, or your thesis statement.
This is a statement which indicates your essay will make a specific contribution and
have a clear result rather than just covering a broader topic.[13] You should make it clear
briefly how you came to this hypothesis in a way which references your discussion of
the existing literature.
 If possible try to avoid using the word "hypothesis" and rather make this implicit in your
writing.[14] This can make your writing appear less formulaic.
  In a scientific paper, giving a clear one-sentence overview of your results and their
relation to your hypothesis makes the information clear and accessible.[15]
 An example of a hypothesis could be "mice deprived of food for the duration of the study
were expected to become more lethargic than those fed normally".
3.

3
Outline the structure of your paper. In some cases the final part of an introduction to
a research paper will be a few lines that provide an overview of the structure of the body
of the paper.[16] This could simply give an outline of how you have organised the paper
and how it is broken down into sections.
 This is not always necessary and you should pay attention to the writing conventions in
your discipline.
 In a natural sciences paper, for example, there is a fairly rigid structure which you will be
following.[17]
 A humanities or social science paper will most likely present more opportunities to
deviate in how you structure your paper.

Research Introduction Help

Sample Scientific Research Introduction

 Sample Research Introduction for
Humanities
 Sample Research Introduction Starters

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Community Q&A
 Question

How many words should it have?

wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer

There's no official word count for an introduction but brevity is the soul of clarity. Do a
sentence to get the reader interested in your topic and a sentence to state your thesis.
You also want to include a few sentences briefly outlining the important points in the
paper and some background information, if necessary. Write at least five to eight clear,
concise sentences. Get to the point and don't make it too wordy.
Not Helpful 15Helpful 84

 Question

I want to write an introduction on my research; the topic is carbohydrates. How

can I do this?

wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer
 Carbohydrates are one of the three macronutrients in our diet (fat and protein being the
others). They exist in many forms and are mainly found in starchy foods such as bread,
pasta, and rice, as well as in some beverages, e.g. fruit juices and sugar-sweetened
drinks. Carbohydrates represent the most important source of energy for the body, and
are vital for a varied and balanced diet.
Not Helpful 23Helpful 63

 Question

How do I introduce myself in public?

wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer

Start with "I am so and so, here to present this" and not "My name is so and so." The "I
am" signifies that confidence.
Not Helpful 25Helpful 53

 Question

How would I write a research introduction about addiction to online gaming?

wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer

Explain how online gaming has become a daily activity for many people and how it
becomes addictive. Outline the basic points of the research you plan to present in the
rest of your paper without getting into specifics.
Not Helpful 17Helpful 38

 Question

How do I write a research introduction on the high school drop out rate?

wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer

Start with a statistic and work from there. The best thing you can start with is a catchy
piece of information or phrase.
Not Helpful 9Helpful 18

 Question

I am writing about restorative justice, plea of temporary insanity for murder and
what we can do as psychologists. Can you give me a clue for introduction?
 wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer

Give an overview of the current state, heavily cited, and why it leads you to believe a
closer look is warranted. Use the intro to provide justification for the rest of the paper
being written.
Not Helpful 18Helpful 17

 Question

How do I write a research introduction about basketball?

Piper Ridge
Community Answer

Basketball is too broad of a topic. What specifically do you want to talk about? Do you
want to talk about what it is like to work as a player? The dangers of the sport? How the
sport has changed from when it was first invented? Once you have a clear question/
topic, then you can begin to write your paper and find research on specific things.
Not Helpful 8Helpful 7

 Question

How do I write a research introduction on computer buses and performance?

kyasa kayumba
Community Answer

You can say something like: "Computers brought about ease in human performance.
Regardless of that the computer performance can be hindered by various ways.
According to this research l discovered the following.."
Not Helpful 1Helpful 2

 Question

How I would write my introduction about smoking?

Piper Ridge
Community Answer

Is it an argumentative essay or an objective (informative) essay? You can talk about the
history of how cigarettes came to be, why they are sold in stores, health issues, what
they are made of, etc.
Not Helpful 11Helpful 5

 Question

How to make quantitative research?

 Earl Nicomedes Lyle Cainglet II
Community Answer

1.state the research problem: Often stated as a question, the problem should be
focused narrowly on the problem being studied. For example: "What is the optimal time
for taking actual temperature with a digital thermometer?" 2. Define the purpose of the
study: The purpose explains "why" the problem is important and what use the
findingswill be. 3. Review related literature: The literature review provides information
about what is already known, provides information about concepts, and how the
concepts have been measured. It also identifies gaps in knowledge that will be studied.
Not Helpful 3Helpful 0

Show more answers

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Tips
 Use your research papers' outline to help you decide what information to include when
writing an introduction.

 Consider drafting your introduction after you have already completed the rest of your
research paper. Writing introductions last can help ensure that you don't leave out any
major points.

Warnings
 Avoid emotional or sensational introductions; these can create distrust in the reader.

 Generally avoid using personal pronouns in your introduction, such as "I," "me," "we,"
"us," "my," "mine," or "our."

 Don't overwhelm the reader with an over-abundance of information. Keep the

introduction as concise as possible by saving specific details for the body of your paper.

Community Q&A
 Question

How many words should it have?

wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer

There's no official word count for an introduction but brevity is the soul of clarity. Do a
sentence to get the reader interested in your topic and a sentence to state your thesis.
You also want to include a few sentences briefly outlining the important points in the
paper and some background information, if necessary. Write at least five to eight clear,
concise sentences. Get to the point and don't make it too wordy.
Not Helpful 15Helpful 84
 Question

I want to write an introduction on my research; the topic is carbohydrates. How

can I do this?

wikiHow Contributor
 Community Answer

Carbohydrates are one of the three macronutrients in our diet (fat and protein being the
others). They exist in many forms and are mainly found in starchy foods such as bread,
pasta, and rice, as well as in some beverages, e.g. fruit juices and sugar-sweetened
drinks. Carbohydrates represent the most important source of energy for the body, and
are vital for a varied and balanced diet.
Not Helpful 23Helpful 63
 Question

How do I introduce myself in public?

wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer

Start with "I am so and so, here to present this" and not "My name is so and so." The "I
am" signifies that confidence.
Not Helpful 25Helpful 53
 Question

How would I write a research introduction about addiction to online gaming?

wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer

Explain how online gaming has become a daily activity for many people and how it
becomes addictive. Outline the basic points of the research you plan to present in the
rest of your paper without getting into specifics.
Not Helpful 17Helpful 38
 Question

How do I write a research introduction on the high school drop out rate?

wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer

Start with a statistic and work from there. The best thing you can start with is a catchy
piece of information or phrase.
Not Helpful 9Helpful 18
 Question

I am writing about restorative justice, plea of temporary insanity for murder and
what we can do as psychologists. Can you give me a clue for introduction?

wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer
 Give an overview of the current state, heavily cited, and why it leads you to believe a
closer look is warranted. Use the intro to provide justification for the rest of the paper
being written.
Not Helpful 18Helpful 17
 Question

How do I write a research introduction about basketball?

Piper Ridge
Community Answer

Basketball is too broad of a topic. What specifically do you want to talk about? Do you
want to talk about what it is like to work as a player? The dangers of the sport? How the
sport has changed from when it was first invented? Once you have a clear question/
topic, then you can begin to write your paper and find research on specific things.
Not Helpful 8Helpful 7
 Question

How do I write a research introduction on computer buses and performance?

kyasa kayumba
Community Answer

You can say something like: "Computers brought about ease in human performance.
Regardless of that the computer performance can be hindered by various ways.
According to this research l discovered the following.."
Not Helpful 1Helpful 2
 Question

How I would write my introduction about smoking?

Piper Ridge
Community Answer

Is it an argumentative essay or an objective (informative) essay? You can talk about the
history of how cigarettes came to be, why they are sold in stores, health issues, what
they are made of, etc.
Not Helpful 11Helpful 5
 Question

How to make quantitative research?

Earl Nicomedes Lyle Cainglet II

Community Answer

1.state the research problem: Often stated as a question, the problem should be
focused narrowly on the problem being studied. For example: "What is the optimal time
for taking actual temperature with a digital thermometer?" 2. Define the purpose of the
study: The purpose explains "why" the problem is important and what use the
findingswill be. 3. Review related literature: The literature review provides information
about what is already known, provides information about concepts, and how the
concepts have been measured. It also identifies gaps in knowledge that will be studied.

How to Write an Introduction for a Research

Paper: Major Things to Keep in Mind
Parts of Essay Writing Guide

An investigation project is all about understanding how to write a research paper

introduction. The way a person will perceive student's writing depends on the beginning.
People judge a book by its cover, and a student should try hard to make a title and
research paper introduction interesting, catchy, and inspiring. It is an art! The article
below shares some valuable college tips to help every student survive a race called
academic writing.

BUY YOUR PAPER

Reading this mini-guide will help to realize how to write an introduction for a research
paper to make the audience enjoy your writing and make it to the end. How about
minimizing student’s efforts? A professional writing service knows the best way to write
an introduction for a research paper and will prepare the top-quality academic essay of
any type within the set period of time – give it a try!

What is Introduction in Research Paper?

Answering the question, “What is introduction in research paper?” Is critical to start the
writing process. It is the opening paragraph of an academic essay. The section should
attract the reader’s attention to make them WANT to read the essay from cover to
cover. It guarantees a better grade.

How to Write an Introduction for a Research Paper: Best Ways

to Come up with Intriguing Opening Paragraph
The stages described below will help to write a good introduction to a research paper
step-by-step. Do you have a topic on hand? If no, pay attention to the primary step.
Knowing the Topic is the Clue

How to start a research paper intro without knowing the topic? No way! Before student
writes a word, he/she should search the web to find the best topic related to the chosen
field of study. The angle from which an author looks at the topic matters. Start with an
outline. Come up with the title before moving to the rest of the work; the title may sound
the way topic is or be paraphrased to make it more intriguing.

What Should Be Included in Introduction of Research Paper?

The parts of an introduction in a research paper are:

1. A title
2. A hook sentence (answers how to start a research paper introduction)
3. Background information
4. Thesis statement (1-2 sentences)

It is impossible to start without having a good title based on the topic of the writer’s
choice. The infographic below should help with the topic’s selection!

Selecting the Topic and Title

The most important stage of academic writing is choosing the topic. The teachers do not
always provide students with the list of possible topics. That is why a student may need
to evaluate many options to decide on this issue. The basic rules of choosing the proper
topic include:
Begin with Background Information

Narrow the background information down to specific points. A writer should not include
details in the research paper introduction. In case a writer plans to apply any
complicated expressions in the central body of a project, he/she should make them
clear to the audience and stress the connection with the problem.

Conduct Literature Review

Unlike in school, it is impossible to develop an academic project based on the student’s

opinion and skills alone. The young writer should review the corresponding literature. It
will help to find the proof of his/her words because student’s personal arguments will
sound subjective to the teacher. What every student need to succeed with this part is a
deep library or online investigation (it is better to choose college library where no one
and nothing will distract the student).

What is the point? The main idea is to collect the works of people who work in the area
of student’s interest, retrieve some quotations to insert as in-text citations, and develop
a corresponding reference to each source in the end. Make sure the target work belongs
to some authority like a famous scientist, philosopher, professor, or field expert. Never
neglect modern time scholars. The introduction to a research paper reflects what the
literature was about and how it helped to explore the selected topic.
Think about Rationale and Hook

A rationale of the work must be laconic and precise. The primary goal of any rationale is
to provide the potential reader with food for thought stressing the significance of the
explored subject. The main purpose of the hook sentence(s) is to catch an eye of the
target reading audience from the opening line or few to make those people read the
essay from cover to cover or minimum half of it. These two elements are both important.

A hook sentence may be of several types:

 Allegory
 Simile/Metaphor
 Joke/Anecdote
 Famous person quote
 Rhetorical question
 Fact or statistics
 Poetry quote

Writing a Thesis Statement

A research essay introduction without its conclusive part, a thesis statement, does not
make any sense. It does not mean a student should work on it in the end. A thesis
statement is an initial thing to come up with when working on the outline. Based on the
thesis, a student should select primary & secondary sources to support the related
arguments with the credible evidence. The whole work is based on the thesis. This
sentence or few predetermine the success rate of the project.

The qualities of the great thesis statement include:

 General info on the topic (background)

 Engagement and precision
 Reflection of the problem’s importance

“Downloading films online without paying for them is a bad practice people should
avoid.”

It is an example of the weak thesis. It does not deserve teacher’s attention. A thesis
should not be obvious, trivial, and universal:

“Each time a user downloads and watches a movie without purchasing this file or
website subscription, the works of great artists remain reprobated and unrecognized,
and industries lose millions of dollars every year. It may harm the overall economic
condition in the country.”

This one is a strong thesis. Why will it work? Mind that the problem of downloading files
illegally is critical in the United States, and the offered government limitations do not
work. In this situation, a student has both interesting, recently discussed topic and
meaningful thesis. Find a full research paper introduction example online.

Use Transition Words to Build Bridges

The only thing left to involve is a transition phrase. It should smoothly move the reader
to the next section of the project, which is the opening paragraph of the body. A body
begins with the methodology. A transition phrase should explain the reader he/she is
going to observe a full list of the applied equipment and tools to prove that the study is
reliable.

To explain how to write an introduction paragraph for a research paper, we have added
more tips & tricks. Read them in the following section!

GET QUICK HELP ONLINE

Free Research Paper Introduction Example
Do you need a free paper introduction example? Use one as a template! Here is a
powerful example of childhood obesity research paper introduction:

“According to the study by Nanci (12b), the horrific epidemic called obesity affects more
than 1/3 of the US kids. It is a simple 7-letter word in English. At the same time, it is one
of the most complicated and severe issues in the United States. The essay offers several
possible solutions after analyzing the causes and effects of childhood obesity.”

Do you need more? Another one is a global warming research paper introduction.

“Is global warming a myth or something every person should be worried about? The
whole planet faces the problem. People should tackle it to keep various species of plants
and animals safe and prevent the Earth from ruination. Some call it the greenhouse
effect. Many people are not aware of the existing threats because of the lacking
promotion and government participation. The essay will prove that the problems
associated with global warming should be introduced to the entire population with the
help of special courses and free presentations on this problem.”

How about another example of introduction in a research paper? Review a death

penalty research paper introduction.

“An interesting fact: the death penalty was once banned for 4 years. This type of capital
punishment was not considered effective, legal, moral, or ethical back in 1972-1976. It is
a controversial topic in the US. People who support such measures believe it is the best
justice as the death penalty is the retribution toward those who have committed the
severest types of crimes like rape or murder. Others call it inhumane. The death penalty
was introduced at the beginning of civilization, and my study proves it is a must-have
measure of punishment in each society.”

These examples will help to understand how to write an intro for a research paper.

Developing Powerful Research Paper Introduction: Smart

Student’s Hints
Things to keep in mind if you want to understand how to write an introduction to a
research paper:

1. Size is what every student should think about. A student’s tutor considers the
volume of the work before deciding whether to read it from cover to cover or not.
A long introduction will prevent the tutor from reading the entire piece in 80%
cases. Define the problem. Explain the problem’s urgency, stress the goal of the
study, and involve a thesis statement. That is it!
2. Writing an introduction to a research paper requires being logical. In a few
sentences, a student should include the key ideas to make the opening
paragraph sound impressive. Satisfy the logical connection of the ideas. Make
the target audience realize what you tried to achieve during the study and why
the issue is worth profound analysis.
3. Make an introduction to a research paper the final section to work on. Start
with the body of the text to decide on the main arguments (up to 3) and
summarize them in the introduction and research paper abstract. This way, a
writer will know the direction. The writing process will flow smoothly after the
shallow investigation and analysis of the selected primary & secondary sources.
4. Take a look at the previous studies related to the chosen topic and identify
the most recent progress versus including a history.

Knowing how to write an introduction for a research paper is something a student will
need to succeed with the future writing projects. It makes sense to ask for professional
help. Do not hesitate to gather free online essay examples of the best introduction to
master the art of academic writing!