A strong introduction in a research paper is extremely important, as it provides an overview of your entire paper and draws the reader in to want to read more. When writing a research paper introduction for a scientific subject, it is best to follow the Modern Language Association (MLA) style formatting guidelines. This will help provide structure and organization to your paper.
The first paragraph of a research paper introduction in MLA style should start with a broad, overarching topic statement. This opening paragraph needs to catch the reader’s attention while introducing them to your topic in 1-3 sentences. For example, if writing a paper on climate change, your opening statement may be: “Climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing our planet today. Over the past few decades, scientific evidence has accumulated to support the notion that human activity is largely responsible for rising global temperatures and other environmental changes.”
The second paragraph in a MLA research paper introduction example should move into narrowing your focus down to the specific question or problem that the paper will address. This subtopic statement should describe what aspect of the broader issue you will be analyzing in depth. Continuing the climate change paper example, this statement may say: “While the evidence is irrefutable that climate change poses a threat, there is still debate around the best policy approaches to mitigate warming and adapt to impacts. This research paper will examine three proposed policy solutions and analyze their potential effectiveness and political feasibility.”
At the end of the second paragraph, you should insert a clear thesis statement that tells the reader the argument or conclusion you will prove over the course of the paper. Your thesis should be a single declarative sentence that indicates your stance and central claims. For example: “This paper argues that a carbon tax, investment in renewable energy infrastructure, and reforestation initiatives show the most promise as politically and economically viable solutions to curb carbon emissions and prepare communities for climate impacts.”
The third paragraph of a strong research paper introduction in MLA format should provide a brief summary of the sources and information that will be used to support the thesis. The sources mentioned here can include scholarly journals, expert reports, and academic texts. For scientific subjects, citing other peer-reviewed research is especially important. Example sources for a climate change paper may include: “Research from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the National Academies of Sciences, and the Nature Climate Change journal will provide data and analyses of past climate trends and future projections. Economic studies from Resources for the Future and the Stanford Solution Project offer cost-benefit studies comparing various policy options.”
At the end of this paragraph, restate the thesis while providing a brief preview of how the paper will be organized. In the climate change example, this could say: “This paper will use evidence from these sources to evaluate the three proposed solutions against criteria like emissions reductions potential, economic costs, public support levels, and feasibility of political adoption. A carbon tax shows the strongest performance against these metrics and thus offers the most promising policy approach.”
The final and fourth paragraph of a research paper introduction wraps up this opening section briefly. It may reiterate why the topic is significant and interesting or state how the reader may benefit from learning about it. It should not introduce new information or claims at this late stage. In the climate change example, a good closing statement could remark: “Understanding effective policy responses to climate change is crucial given its wide-ranging impacts on areas like public health, infrastructure, food/water security, and economic stability. This research aims to aid the public policy debate by carefully analyzing leading proposals based on scientific evidence and economic modeling.”
Writing the introduction for a scientific research paper in MLA format requires setting the context, stating the focus, clearly articulating the thesis and arguments, and previewing what is to come. An engaging, thoughtful introduction will hook readers to want to learn more about the topic through the lens of the evidence and analysis that follow. Properly introducing the key elements lends organization and credibility to the overall paper. Following MLA guidelines with an introduction that establishes relevance, focus, argument, and structure will provide a solid start and foundation for the rest of the scientific research.