Unit IV Introduction and Literature Review (CATHERINE OWENS ONLY)

Unit IV

Lesson 4: The Introduction

Introduction

We suggest that you complete your introduction after you write your literature review. Why is that? There are a few reasons why writing your introduction second is a better idea than writing it before the literature review.

The introduction is a kind of summary: The introduction presents the reader with a general understanding of the topics that the paper will cover.
It is often easier to write this summary after you write the literature review: The literature review is a section of the paper that paraphrases and summarizes the basic arguments that are presented within the controversy. Many times, establishing what you already know about the controversy by writing the literature review can help you to better know what should be included in the introduction.

There are even those who begin writing their literature review and then continue on to the body and conclusion before writing the introduction last. While this is not the order that we will be writing your paper, it is good to know that while the introduction may come first in the paper, it is not often written first. In fact, many writers return to the introduction after they have completed an entire draft in order to change the details of the sentences, including adjusting the thesis statement to match the content of the paper itself.

What is an Introduction?

An introduction is the first paragraph of a research paper. We know that an introduction should preface the material that comes afterwards by familiarizing the reader with the general concepts. The thesis statement should be placed at the end of this paragraph.

The Purpose of the Introduction

An introduction sets the stage for the rest of your paper. If you do not include an introduction or your introduction is weak, the reader may have difficulty understanding your topic or your argument. Whatever you include in the introduction becomes the foundation for the entire paper, so you want to give the reader a strong understanding of what you will be doing for the rest of the paper.

The Content

A good introduction should have a logical flow. The best way to achieve this characteristic is to begin with the general topic and then move into more detailed specifics so that your reader will best understand how you came to your thesis statement. To illustrate this concept, let’s take a look at an example introduction below, and then parse the rhetorical moves that the writer is making to better understand how you can achieve a logical flow in your own work.

Below is Amanda’s paper. She wanted to write about gun control, but she realized early on in her project that she could not write about all of gun control, so she decided to focus on the issue of mass shootings. To help her narrow the scope of the project even further, she decided to weigh in on a controversy that she has seen in the local news: the controversy about a state legislative bill (SB 1474) that would allow students, teachers, and staff to openly carry firearms on university campuses in Arizona. Now, let’s take a look at Amanda’s introduction to her research paper; then let’s take a closer look at the moves she is making:

Much has been made in the past few years about gun restrictions in the United States. Proponents of gun regulation are in a constant state of lobbying for state and federal bills that restrict access to firearms, whether that takes the form of more extensive background checks on potential gun owners or longer waiting periods before guns may be sold to individuals. On the other side, the National Rifle Association (NRA) and other like-minded individuals advocate for looser restrictions on the sale and carrying of firearms. For these supporters of pro-gun legislation, owning and carrying guns is a fundamental right—even a civil right. While this national debate continues to loom over the hot topic of guns, there are breaking news stories, especially within the last few months, that bring this fundamental debate to the threshold of our nation’s colleges, high schools, and even elementary schools. Seung-Hui Cho’s massacre at Virginia Tech (April 16, 2007) is perhaps one of the more infamous school shootings, but there are others that are perhaps more difficult to remember, like the deaths of 27 killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut (December 14, 2012). Shootings like these in educational settings have drawn attention from both anti-gun proponents and pro-gun lobbyists, and the State of Arizona is no exception to this firestorm. The Arizona State Legislature has proposed SB 1474, a gun bill that will allow students and faculty to carry guns on the campus grounds of its three state-funded universities. Supporters of the bill claim that Arizona is an open-carry state, and those rights should not be restricted simply because the carrier crosses the border of a college campus. Those against the bill assert that guns have no place in education and that those who support the bill are only after their own election-year agendas. While the Second Amendment should be upheld, the educational learning environment should be protected; therefore, SB 1474 is a detrimental and dangerous bill that has the potential to change the university campus culture in Arizona state universities.

Now that you have read through the introduction completely, let’s label the rhetorical moves she is making so that we can create a list of moves that you will want to emulate when you write your own paper.

Sentence 1 (S1): Much has been made in the past few years about gun restrictions in the United States. Proponents of gun regulation are in a constant state of lobbying for state and federal bills that restrict access to firearms, whether that takes the form of more extensive background checks on potential gun owners or longer waiting periods before guns may be sold to individuals.

S1 Explanation: This sentence introduces the main topic of the paper, which is “gun control.” The topic is presented in a generalized manner. In addition, this sentence does the double work of introducing the con side of the argument.

Sentence 2 & 3: On the other side, the National Rifle Association (NRA) and other like-minded individuals advocate for looser restrictions on the sale and carrying of firearms. For these supporters of pro-gun legislation, owning and carrying guns is a fundamental right—even a civil right.

S2 & 3 Explanation: This sentence follows S1 by introducing the position of the pro side. Again, Amanda is general, focusing on the larger controversy.

Sentence 4: While this national debate continues to loom over the hot topic of guns, there are breaking news stories, especially within the last few months, that bring this fundamental debate to the threshold of our nation’s colleges, high schools, and even elementary schools.

S4 Explanation: Amanda begins to narrow the scope of the project by pointing toward a specific debate within the larger controversy of gun control: gun control in educational settings.

Sentence 5: Seung-Hui Cho’s massacre at Virginia Tech (April 16, 2007) is perhaps one of the more infamous school shootings, but there are others that are perhaps more difficult to remember, like the deaths of 27 killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut (December 14, 2012).

S5 Explanation: This sentence brings in examples from the news. Note that these are examples of school shootings with which most readers will be familiar because of their infamous nature. These examples ground the project to what is at stake in making arguments about the topic, specifically mass shootings within educational settings. The inclusion of these examples is not about the con or pro sides of the controversy; instead, these examples enable the reader to connect with the content.

Sentence 6: Shootings like these in educational settings have drawn attention from both anti-gun proponents and pro-gun lobbyists, and the State of Arizona is no exception to this firestorm.

S6 Explanation: Again, the writer narrows the scope of the project by moving from gun control in the educational setting to a specific location: the State of Arizona.

Sentence 7: The Arizona State Legislature has proposed SB 1474, a gun bill that will allow students and faculty to carry guns on the campus grounds of its three state-funded universities.

S7 Explanation: In this sentence, the writer introduces the specific topic of the project: the controversy around . This sentence is not about the pro or con sides, but is about providing information to the reader so that the reader understands what the object of controversy is.

Sentence 8 & 9: Supporters of the bill claim that Arizona is an open-carry state, and those rights should not be restricted simply because the carrier crosses the border of a college campus. Those against the bill assert that guns have no place in education and that those who support the bill are only after their own election-year agendas.

S8 & 9 Explanation: Amanda presents the con and pro sides of the controversy by introducing the specific positions of first the con and then the pro sides.

Sentence 10: While the Second Amendment should be upheld, the educational learning environment should be protected; therefore, SB 1474 is a detrimental and dangerous bill that has the potential to change the university campus culture in Arizona state universities.

S10 Explanation: The writer presents her thesis statement at the end of the paragraph as the last sentence. Amanda responds to the controversy by crafting a thesis statement that simultaneously agrees and disagrees.

The Form

The introduction should be written in one paragraph. The average introduction for a research paper like this one has around 10 sentences, like the example above. Let’s take a look at the list of moves that you will need to make for your own introduction. Each sentence has a purpose and delivers information that will help your reader to better understand the controversy at hand and your thesis statement response to that controversy.

One way that an introduction is often described is that it is much like an inverted pyramid, wherein the top is generalized (large-scale topic) and the bottom is very narrow (the thesis statement). Let’s take a look at a visual:

Sentence 1: Introduce the general topic: In this first sentence, you will present the main generalized topic of your project, so do not include the specifics of your project just yet.

Sentence 2: Pro side: Present the position of the pro side on the generalized topic. (Note: The con side can be presented first.)

Sentence 3: Con side: Present the position of the con side on the generalized topic. (Note: The pro side can be presented first.)

Sentence 4: Narrowing the scope (1): The topic will be narrowed twice in the introduction. This is the first narrowing. No matter how you narrow, you want to find a way to hone the scope of the project so that you are not covering a topic that is far too generalized. As we have discussed before, the more narrowed your topic, the more you will have to say about the specific situation. In the example, Amanda narrowed the first time by narrowing the topic to gun control within an educational setting.

Sentence 5: Examples of the narrowed topic: This sentence is optional, but you should be encouraged to include at least one example because including an example will help the reader to understand what it is that you are discussing. Further, as discussed above, including an example will also help the reader relate to the topic. So often, our explanations are not as helpful as one or two good examples that drive home a point that cannot be easily grasped otherwise.

Sentence 6: Narrow the scope (2): In this sentence, you are narrowing the scope again. In the example, Amanda narrowed from the topic of gun control within educational settings to a specific location: Arizona.

Sentence 7: Specific controversy: This is a key sentence in your introduction because this is where the readers will finally be introduced to the specific controversy that you will be discussing within the paper. This sentence introduces the focal point of the entire project.

Sentence 8: Pro side (specific): Now that the reader knows the specific controversy, you are able to introduce the pro side’s position on the specific topic. In this way, this sentence prefaces the deeper discussion that you included in the literature review.

Sentence 9: Con side (specific): The specific position of the con side is introduced.

Sentence 10: The thesis: The last sentence of your paragraph will assert your thesis statement. Again, your thesis statement should be a response to the controversy. You should agree, disagree, or agree and disagree simultaneously.

Follow the sentence template above and see the example introduction and literature review for more direction.

Reflection

In this unit, we have discussed both the introduction and the literature review. Throughout the process of writing both of these sections, you have no doubt gained a better understanding of the controversy that you are exploring with your paper. You probably have a better sense of your argument and what you would like your points to be for your body paragraphs. Consider what you have experienced over the last few weeks. We are at the halfway point in the course, so think about how far you have come.