Writing a strong introduction for a research paper is important to set the tone for your paper and grab the reader’s attention. The introduction is the first thing a reader will see, so it is necessary to make a good first impression. A solid introduction should include a hook, background information on your topic, a clear thesis statement, and a brief overview of the structure of your paper. Keep reading for a detailed english research paper introduction example and guidelines to help you write an effective introduction for your own research paper.
When writing a research paper introduction, it’s important to start with a hook to capture the reader’s attention and interest them in your topic. Some effective hook types you can use include:
A surprising statistic: You can startle the reader by providing an interesting or unexpected fact or statistic related to your topic. For example, if writing about video game violence you could state “Recent studies have shown that over 90% of children between ages 8-12 play violent video games on a weekly basis.”
A thought-provoking question: Pose an open-ended question that relates to your topic and makes the reader want to learn more in order to find the answer. For example, if writing about gender inequality in the workplace you could ask “Why, in today’s society, do significant wage gaps still exist between men and women for the same jobs?”
A relevant quote: Find an attention-grabbing or thought-provoking quote from an expert or famous figure on your topic. For example, if writing about poetry you could quote poet Emily Dickinson saying “There is no frigate like a book to take us lands away.”
A vivid scene or anecdote: Describe an engaging scenario or story that sets up the focus of your research question. For example, if writing about pollution you could describe witnessing overflowing landfills and piles of trash lining city streets.
The next part of an effective introduction provides the necessary background information on your topic to give context and establish why your research question matters. Go into just enough detail to demonstrate that you understand the key issues and have surveyed existing literature on the subject. You can weave in relevant terminology, summarize previous studies, and highlight any gaps/disagreements in current research.
After hooking the reader and laying the proper background knowledge, directly state your research topic and central research question or hypothesis in a clear thesis statement. The thesis should be focused and debatable while expressing the purpose and direction of your research paper. For example, a thesis for a paper on poetry could be: “This paper will analyze how Emily Dickinson’s unconventional use of form and syntax challenged 19th century poetic conventions and expanded boundaries of genre.”
To wrap up the introduction, you should include a brief outline or forecasting of how you will answer the research question or prove your hypothesis. Mention the major points or topics that will be covered in the body paragraphs of your paper and how they connect to the thesis statement. For example, an outline could state: “This paper will begin by exploring Dickinson’s nontraditional approach to line structure and rhyming schemes. It will then examine how her creative use of language pushed poetic boundaries. Finally, it will consider Dickinson’s legacy and influence on modern poetry.”
Here is a full example of an introduction for a research paper on the influence of video games on youth:
Video games have become a ubiquitous part of children’s daily lives over the past two decades. In fact, statistics show 97% of teens ages 13-17 regularly play video games (ESA, 2019). As gaming has risen to become a mainstream form of entertainment and pastime, the debate over its effects—particularly regarding violence—has intensified. While some research has linked violent games to increased aggression in players, the topic remains controversial with conflicting results. This paper aims to provide an up-to-date examination of current research on the influence of violent video games on youth behavior and determine whether a relationship exists between playing violent video games and real-world aggression.
Previous studies on this subject have produced inconclusive and contradictory findings. Some earlier work found links between game violence exposure and increases in aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors (Anderson & Bushman, 2001). Other studies found no connection or weak correlations that were sensitive to methodological variation (Ferguson, 2015). More recent neurological investigations using fMRI technology have shown increased activation in brain regions associated with emotional arousal when youth play violent games, although the behavioral consequences are still debated (Wang et al., 2017). Clearly, this issue warrants ongoing research as gaming becomes an ever more central activity for youth.
In this paper, a systematic review will be conducted of empirical research studies published between 2010-2020 on the potential effects of violent video games on adolescents and young people. The review will quantitatively analyze and synthesize the results across multiple independent experiments to determine if an overall relationship exists between exposure to violent digital content and subsequent aggressive tendencies. It is hypothesized that the preponderance of evidence will demonstrate a clear link between violent gaming and increased hostile cognitions, arousal, and behaviors among youth.
The paper will first explore how past meta-analyses have quantified relationships demonstrated in earlier research. Next, it will discuss the specific methodologies and key findings from several prominent studies published since 2010. Finally, a new meta-analysis will be presented weighing the broad collection of recent evidence regarding whether violent games influence real-world aggression in children and teenagers. By comprehensively reviewing the current literature, this paper aims to provide parents, researchers, and policymakers with an objective analysis of our evolving understanding of this issue.
Andrew Stroud