How to Write a Research Paper Introduction?

Underestimating an introduction in a research paper can be fatal. You cannot just make it up or fake it. Neither can you free-ride on it, improvise, or humiliate in any other way. The only correct approach to doing an introduction for a research paper is to write it diligently and effectively, ensuring it sets the right tone and establishes the necessary groundwork for your research.

What is the introduction for a research paper?

Technically, an introduction in a research paper is a relatively small part that goes after the title page and an abstract. It serves the purpose of presenting one’s research goals. It is also used by the writers to set the stage for the entire research by providing background information on the topic, and substantiating the need to address a particular problem (problem statement & thesis statement).

Value-wise, introduction is massively important, since it’s the crux of your paper that will be closely examined by every keen reader. That’s why you shouldn’t hurry up writing it. Sometimes it’s even worth postponing formulating its final text till the very end, after the main research has been completed.    

What should be included in a research paper introduction?

An introduction in a research paper is a complex chapter made up of many sections. Each section in the introduction comes with its own title tag and purpose. Let’s see what exactly those sections are, including their short description and relevant examples.

All sections in the introduction should follow a strict order, where each consecutive one derives from its predecessor. However, one of the most important parts is the very start of an introduction.

How to start an introduction for a research paper

The introduction for research paper starts with contextualization. However, there is a very important emotional part to that element – the thing that we call the “hook” in essays and other academic texts. Metaphorically speaking, you need to “hook” your readers’ attention similar to how a fisherman hooks a fish in a pond. The latter can only be done if the fish is given something attractive, bright, tasty, and unique as a hook bait.  

For example, in a topic about informational warfare, you can start your introduction with the following hook:

The new digital era has brought wonders and undeniable benefits, making our lives easier. However, as with many cutting-edge discoveries, the digital wonder has turned out to be a double-edged sword. While some are using information to make lives easier, others have turned it into a lethal weapon of poisoning propaganda and omnipresent cyber threats.

Here, the metaphor of information becoming a lethal weapon serves as the “hook” to ignite the reader’s interest. It effectively introduces the topic of informational warfare, while being eye-opening enough to grab the reader’s attention. 

How long should an introduction be in a research paper?

As a rule of thumb, an introduction shouldn’t exceed 15% of the total volume of a research paper. However, its absolute length may vary depending on the work’s complexity and level.

For example, in an undergraduate research paper of 5-10 pages, the length of the introduction should not exceed 1 page (in a standard 12-size font and double-spaced line formatting).

At the same time, for a graduate-level research paper spanning 20-30 pages, the absolute length of an introduction should increase proportionately. So, get ready to compose a 2 and even 3-page introductory part, characterized by a substantial problem statement and literature review sections.

Things to consider when writing an introduction for a research paper     

Still hesitant about how to write an introduction for your research paper? Here are a few easy-to-remember recommendations to give you confidence:

• To avoid confusing the objective (purpose) of your research paper with the thesis statement, think of the former as a general goal and the latter as a highly specific goal. 

For example, in the paper about informational warfare, the objective, or the general goal can be to analyze informational warfare as a phenomenon, while the specific goal can be to prove that cyber weapons provide asymmetric advantages to whoever employs them.

• Use third-person voice in a research paper. Unlike an ordinary essay, where a first-person voice is rather common (in particular, in a narrative essay), a research paper is a serious academic work that requires an adequate level of formality. So, instead of saying “I”, “my”, “me”, etc., you should say “We”, “our”, e.g., “In our research, we aim to answer…”. 

• When writing an introduction, don’t hold yourself back in asking questions and consulting with your instructor, or research advisor. It’s better to talk to your instructor more often, to avoid omitting a serious design flaw or taking a wrong research direction.

• You don’t have to get everything right and perfect in the introduction straight away. It will suffice to land on a rough sketch first, for example, this idea will be used as a hook, this will be the main research problem that we will aim to solve, that aspect will constitute the main objective of the research, etc.

• The only thing that is worth getting right and sound from the beginning is the thesis statement. It is the condensed focus and aim of your research, i.e., what gives the research its purpose, defines its scope and even limitations.

Final Thoughts

Writing a research paper introduction is easy to underestimate since we all know that introductions in essays are short and simple. However, a research paper is a serious project requiring in-depth analysis and investigation into the chosen area, to discover new knowledge and insights without any or with minimal external help. It’s not rare when a researcher, upon completion of the project, looks back and revises the introduction to make it better fit the overall scheme of things.