Science research writing for Non-native Holart Glasman-Deal, Introduction

Unit 1 ✏ How to Write an Introduction

1.1 structure

• be certain about what you have done and what you have found
• presented in the order in which it appears in a paper/thesis so that you can trace the connections between each part and see the sequence in which information is presented to the reader.

symmetrical: This is because many of the things you need to do in the Introduction are done — in reverse order — in the Discussion / Conclusion.

1.2 Grammar and Writing Skills

• A. TENSE PAIRS

present tense: truth; permanent.

• B. SIGNALLING LANGUAGE

One of the most common errors in writing is failing to connect one sentence or idea to the next

1. One way to connect sentences is to overlap, meaning to repeat something from the previous sentence.

2. Another way is to use a pronoun (it, they) or pro-form (this method, these systems) to glue the sentences together.

3. The third way is not to finish the sentence at all, but to join it to the next sentence with a semicolon or a relative clause (a ‘which’ clause).

4. The fourth way is to use a signalling sentence connector to indicate the relationship between one sentence and the next, or one part of a sentence and the next:

• CAUSE

due to / on account of / in view of = the fact that

as / because/ since

• RESULT

therefore / consequently / hence

as a result / which is why / so(toooo informal)

• CONTRAST / DIFFERENCE - not ONLY the oppsite is true ( contrary, conversely)

however / whereas / but

on the other hand / while / by contrast

• UNEXPECTEDNESS

although / even though / though

despite / in spite of / regardless of / notwithstanding

nevertheless / however / yet / nonetheless / even so

------ no still , anyway (informal)

• ADDITION

in addition, moreover, furthermore / apart from that- which

also / secondly / in the second place / what is more

• C. PASSIVE / ACTIVE USE

1) You can use we to refer to your research group or team, but do not use it to refer to people or humanity in general.

2) people in general, it’s better to use a construction with It (It is known/ thought that…)

3) Use words like here and in this study to refer to your own work :

4) This article describes... The present paper presents...

In other words, we say that something was done or was identified but we don’t say ‘by me’ or ‘by other researchers’

• D. PARAGRAPHING

THE First paragraph

THE First sentence of each paragraph

1.3 writing task: Build a Model

1.3.1 Building a model

1.4 Vocabulary

1. ESTABLISHING SIGNIFICANCE

This includes phrases such as "Much research in recent years". A good list of commonly used words and expressions will encourage you to include this in your fi rst sentences

2. PREVIOUS AND/OR CURRENT RESEARCH AND CONTRIBUTIONS

Th is includes all past tense verbs describing what researchers did, i.e. calculated, monitored, etc. Instead of just using did, showed, and found, you often need to be more specific about what a researcher actually ‘did’!

3. GAP/PROBLEM/QUESTION/PREDICTION

how previous and/or current research is not yet complete or has not addressed the problem your paper deals with, e.g. However, few studies have focused on...

4. THE PRESENT WOR

This may include your purpose, your strategy and the design of your paper: the aims of the present work are as follows

1.5 Writing an Introduction

1.5.1 Write an Introduction