WEEK 7: Crafting Your Introduction
As the pieces of our thesis puzzle start fitting together seamlessly, we find ourselves at a pivotal juncture.
With the completion of our methods and results sections, the time has come to write the introduction of our paper. This phase is the fruit of our laborious and consistent weekly engagements with scholarly articles, spirited academic discussions, and diligent note-taking. Our aim for the introduction is not merely to start the paper but to lay down a compelling narrative foundation for our research. As researchers, we must understand that our responsibilities go far beyond the discovery phase; we are entrusted with the vital task of effectively communicating our science. It’s this ability to communicate that distinguishes a proficient researcher from an exceptional one. Scientific articles should not be perceived as daunting texts reserved for experts; instead, they must strive towards inclusivity and accessibility, welcoming readers with varied backgrounds.
This week, our mission is to sculpt an introduction that does more than introduce; it should narrate. We plan to guide our readers through a meticulously thought-out journey, starting from the research problem that has captured our attention, moving through the gaps in the existing literature that our study aims to bridge, articulating why our research is significant, and finally, presenting our study as the proposed solution. This narrative arc is designed to be more than informational; it aims to connect, engaging the reader’s curiosity and intellect.
Our overarching goal is to transcend the barriers of technical jargon, making our research not just accessible but also engaging and inviting. We envision our introduction as a gateway, opening up the complexities of our study in a manner that is comprehensible and appealing to a broad audience. By achieving this, we do more than just enhance the reach and discoverability of our work; we actively invite a wider audience into the conversation around our scientific inquiry. This strategy not only broadens the impact of our research but also bridges the gap between complex scientific concepts and the public’s understanding. In doing so, we transform our research from a mere scholarly contribution into a meaningful dialogue that welcomes diverse perspectives and enriches the collective knowledge of our field. Through this approach, we aim to not only contribute to the academic discourse but also to democratize science, making it a shared venture that resonates with and benefits a wider community.
Scientific Communication: Aligning Your Manuscript with Your Audience
Having addressed the importance of inclusivity in your paper, it’s crucial to also focus on the significance of identifying and catering to your target audience. This isn’t to critique highly specialized papers that, at a glance, appear exceedingly niche and intended for a narrowly defined group. Such papers fulfill a critical role by creating a research narrative tailored to their specific audience. For example, if these papers were to dilute the complexity and specificity of their research to appeal to a broader audience, they might fail to engage or be valued by their intended readers—those experts deeply invested in nuanced findings within a particular domain. For a general audience, elaborating on various concepts and engaging in extended discussions of effects and the literature in the introduction can be highly valuable, offering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the subject. However, for experts who are likely familiar with much of the cited work, such extensive exposition might come across as redundant, making the paper tedious and less engaging. They might perceive it as an overly detailed and somewhat monotonous read. Therefore, striking a balance is crucial when considering your readership. Tailoring your introduction to include necessary context and depth for those less familiar with the topic, while also keeping it concise and directly relevant for experts, ensures that your paper resonates with a diverse audience. This balance ensures that your work remains accessible and informative to novices without sacrificing the interest and engagement of seasoned scholars in your field.
Therefore, engaging in a dialogue with your supervisor about the intended audience for your paper is essential. Most likely your paper will primarily be read and evaluated by your supervisor, who is well-versed in the subject matter. As such, they may not necessitate an extensive background introduction or explanations of terms and phenomena already familiar to them. The key is to tailor your paper to meet the expectations of such an audience, striking a balance between providing necessary information and maintaining conciseness and depth. Your aim should be to produce a paper that your supervisor finds both informative and succinct.
Crafting your paper with your target audience in mind does not mean compromising the quality or integrity of your research. Instead, it involves making strategic decisions about how to present your findings, what level of detail to include, and which aspects of your research to emphasize. By doing so, you ensure that your paper not only adheres to academic standards but also resonates with and is appreciated by those who are most invested in your work.
In summary, while striving for inclusivity, do not lose sight of the importance of specificity and relevance to your target audience. This approach ensures that your paper is both accessible to a wider audience and deeply engaging to the experts most interested in your findings. Discussing these considerations with your supervisor can provide valuable insights into how to best structure your paper, making it a compelling and impactful contribution to your field.
Adhering to Guidelines
Before you begin drafting your introduction, it’s essential to be aware of any specific requirements set by your institution or supervisors regarding the word or page count, as well as the formatting guidelines for your introduction. For instance, in my own experience with an undergraduate thesis project, my instructor set clear expectations: the introduction should be at least 5 pages but no more than 7 pages, double-spaced, and formatted according to the standard APA guidelines. He mentioned there was a little bit of flexibility, allowing for an introduction that might extend to 7.5 pages without cause for concern. However, he emphasized the importance of not falling below the 5-page minimum. These precise instructions provided a solid foundation for crafting my introduction.
For my master’s thesis, on the other hand, the introduction was significantly longer, spanning 12 double-spaced pages. It had to conform to more stringent departmental guidelines, which were detailed in an extensive document outlining specific requirements for headings, subheadings, and other formatting details. This experience highlights that, while undergraduate thesis guidelines might be somewhat flexible and largely determined by the individual supervisor, graduate-level work often adheres to more rigorous departmental standards. It’s crucial, therefore, to familiarize yourself with these guidelines early on in your thesis preparation. As a graduate student, you’ll likely encounter strict formatting and structural expectations set by your department, which are important to follow closely as you draft your introduction and other sections of your thesis.
