Among the top searches by many college and university students is ‘how to write a thesis introduction.’ You might ask, why is it a top search? Is there anything special about a thesis introduction? Yes! And a great deal of importance for that case.
Show me, you say. Well, keep your eyes peeled for the next lines that follow.
Often, Master’s and Ph.D. students find this task intimidating. Imagine having spent lots of sleepless nights on your research paper only to find a stumbling block – the introduction thesis! You will find it difficult to determine what needs to be included or omitted and how to make a good first impression on your reader.
Let’s now dismantle this monster’s so-called introduction and thesis once and for all.
Contents
Experts will tell you that the thesis and introduction are essential parts of your research paper. The section determines what you are going to write on and the angle you will take. Such will have an impact on the reception of your paper by the reader.
What constitutes a strong thesis introduction example, then?
- The motivation of your research (Briefly describe why you ventured into that topic)
- The scope of your research. (How far do you intent to go with your research?)
- The relevance of the research problem. (How will it benefit the reader?)
- The literature related to your thesis (What are the scientific journals, articles, or books that relate to your topic. Briefly mention them)
At this juncture, you might exclaim, ‘but that is too much for a thesis introduction!’ That is why you need to learn how to write a good thesis introduction. With the knowledge you will acquire here, you will be able to articulate all these in a short but all-inclusive introductory paragraph. Stay with me.
Remember that the introductory paragraph decides your thesis’s fate, whether it will be a success or not. Therefore, there is no room for mistakes. Let the elements above set the pace for your thesis introduction outline.
Now, this is important
How to Write a Thesis Introduction?
Getting the right introduction will make the rest of your paper flow. However, when you mess up in this section, catching up will be like getting President Trump out of Twitter; you know how difficult that will be – don’t you?
Before you start your thesis introduction, here are a few essentials to bear at the back of your mind:
- Deliberate and devise different ideas
- Organize your thoughts in an inverted pyramid style (begin with the most important to the least)
- Highlight the terms and scope of your writing
- Have a list of strong and striking words to hook your readers
After putting together all these, it’s now time to get down to work. And this is the most interesting part – now that you have everything you need. Note that a crisp and interesting thesis introduction is our goal, nothing short of that.
Begin your introduction with a broad and interesting sentence with seamless transitions into your argument. The sentence should appeal to a wide range of audiences. A great way to do this would be to determine who you intend to inform with your paper. Such will help you identify the different groups and sub-groups that will benefit from your thesis.
Without the background information, your thesis intro is as good as dead. Therefore, provide an adequate but brief background for your readers to understand the thesis statement and arguments. It will help you not to spend too much time with it in the body of the thesis.
Thesis Introduction Example
Let us now put into practice what we have been discussing with the help of a sample thesis introduction paragraph.
“Technology has become an essential part of our daily lives. It has achieved great milestones in advancing productivity and progression. Statistics show that by 2030, almost every facet of human life will be automated. But what does this mean for those who depend on manual work as a source of their daily bread? Here are reasons why Technology will land many in the jobless corner.”
From the thesis introduction sample above, we can make the following remarks:
- A good thesis intro has interesting facts and statistics
- It has relevant background information for the reader
- It contains preview key points that lead into the thesis statement
Note that the sample above is not cast on a stone for every topic. However, it will be able to spearhead you in the right direction culminating in a great introduction. What are you waiting for now? Try it out on your own. It will amaze you to know how much you have improved just by reading this post.
Moreover, you can use these tips to spice up your paper:
- It should address a current situation (this will draw the interest of many)
- Inform the reader about the purpose of your thesis.
- Could you not write it in one go?
- Present a comprehensive outlook of your thesis paper.
- It should offer readers value for their time spent reading it
- Proofread it to ensure that your grammar and language are up to speed
Scroll down for more on how to start a thesis introduction effectively.
What Is The Ideal Length Of a Thesis Introduction?
A professional answer to this question would be – as long as it needs to be – no longer and no shorter. However, using the variables long and short is ambiguous. Most institutions have their requirements for the length of the thesis introduction paragraph.
Here is a more insightful look at this question of length. The thesis introduction is normally placed on pages 3-5. Therefore, this tells you that it is not shorter than 150 words. Let’s look at some of the factors that determine the length of the thesis introduction paragraph:
- Level of research
- Academic or scientific discipline
- Depth of specialization
- The topic or problem in question
- The preferences of the department
With that, you can determine how long your introduction will take. Don’t get all worked up about the length; as long as you have the content, you are all set! You can even handle an introduction of 10 pages or more.
Despite the confusing aspects of a thesis introduction, you can see that it is a manageable task. The trick is simple, follow the guidelines, look at our thesis examples, and contact our professional thesis writers if you are stuck.