How to Write an Introduction for a Research Paper: Full Guide
Sep 21, 20248 min read
Share article
Table of contents
- How to Write a Research Paper Introduction: Everything a Student Should Know
- Why Should You Bother About How to Start a Research Paper Intro?
- How to Start an Introduction for a Research Paper: General Rules
- Research Paper Introduction Outline: Where Does It Fit in a Paper?
- What Is the Purpose of the Introduction of a Research Essay?
- How Long Should an Introduction Be for a Research Paper?
- Writing a Killer Introduction Section of a Research Paper: The Bottom Line
- Frequently asked questions
How to Write a Research Paper Introduction: Everything a Student Should Know
A research paper is a widespread type of academic work assigned to students across different educational levels and majors. The task implies conducting an independent study of a selected topic, gathering results, analyzing findings, and presenting them in a compelling academic paper.
Needless to say, it’s a massive and incredibly time-consuming assignment, tackling which can cause you a lot of headaches. Yet, independent research projects make up a significant part of the curriculum and have a huge impact on your GPA, meaning that there is absolutely no way to avoid doing such work.
Since you can’t avoid it, the next logical question is – how do you craft an A-level scientific research paper?
In reality, there are many concerns to address before and while writing a research paper. Which topic to choose? Which manual of style should you use (aka APA, MLA, etc.)? Where to look for valid information?
Answering each of these questions is important for success. Yet, one of the biggest questions that can predetermine the entire success of your work is – how to write a good introduction for a research paper?
Why Should You Bother About How to Start a Research Paper Intro?
A research paper is a rather voluminous work. The length of this paper can vary greatly depending on your academic level, topic, and other factors. Yet, on average, it takes around 4,000 and 6,000 words to make a compelling research paper, and this wordcount fits in several base parts of a research work:
- Introduction
- Methodology
- Results
- Discussion
An introduction, albeit it comes first in the paper, isn’t frequently considered a truly important part of the work. Many students don’t really wonder how to write an intro to a research paper. And that’s in vain.
Experienced scholars emphasize that the introduction section is arguably one of the most pivotal parts of an academic written piece.
Although it doesn’t contain any information about your research process or findings, an intro sets the tone for the entire paper. Its core purpose is to grab the reader’s attention, help them understand the concept of research they are about to read, and encourage them to continue reading.
Long story short, failing to write a good intro can make you lose your audience’s attention even before you delve into the details of your study. That’s why it’s crucial to find the best way to start a research paper introduction.
How to Start an Introduction for a Research Paper: General Rules
Now that you know why an introduction matters to the overall success of your research project, you must be looking forward to learning how to start a research paper introduction.
Later in this guide, we’ll delve into every detail of writing an excellent intro, covering topics like the right intro length, formatting, and content. But first, let’s quickly go over some general rules.
- Begin with a thought-inspiring or shocking hook that will instantly get your readers interested and make them want to learn more about your study and findings. Many experts believe that a good hook makes up 50% of a successful introduction.
- Present a topic to give the audience an idea of what exactly they will find in your paper. Then, provide additional background info to ensure that your readers understand the purpose and value of your study and find it easier to follow along.
- Detail your own approach to the topic. You need to tell readers what you’re hoping to achieve with your research.
In addition to these recommendations, probably the most important tip on how to begin a research paper introduction is to get into enough detail while also keeping your intro concise to leave enough space for the rest of the information you are going to share.
How to Start Off a Research Paper Intro: Top Hook Types to Try
As you know from the general rules presented above, the right way to open a research paper introduction is to use an attention-grabbing hook that gets readers engaged.
In a nutshell, a hook is an opening statement of a paper. It can be anything that helps capture attention. Some of the most effective hooks include:
- A rhetorical, thought-provoking question
- A relevant quote that reflects your paper’s core idea
- A common misbelief that you’re going to refute in your work
- A shocking fact or statistic that aligns with your topic
Sometimes, anecdotes or metaphors might be used as hooks as long as they are relevant and appropriate to your particular paper.
Research Paper Introduction Outline: Where Does It Fit in a Paper?
When someone thinks about an introduction, it’s natural to believe that it’s the very first part of something, let’s say a research paper.
While this is partially true and a good introduction for research paper actually serves as an opening part of your work, it’s important to remember about research paper structuring and formatting rules to format your work correctly.
As was mentioned earlier, the basic parts of a research paper include the introduction, methodology, results, and discussion sections. These are the primary parts of the work where you communicate your research and findings, provide arguments, and interpret the core ideas from the paper.
Yet, if we look at the complete structure of this paper, we’ll see many additional sections that follow like this:
- Title (Cover) Page
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Limitations of Study
- Methodology
- Literature Review
- Main Body
- Discussion and Conclusion
- Works Cited/Bibliography
- . Appendices
As you can see, in a complete research paper structure, the introduction isn’t the first structural element. Hence, making it go first in your work might be a mistake that’ll cost you extra points that you would have earned.
At the same time, not all elements of a research paper structure are always mandatory. To create a well-defined outline and understand where to place your introduction, carefully read your assignment and clarify any doubts with a professor.
What Is the Correct Research Paper Introduction Format?
Knowing about the structure of this paper, you also need to have a good understanding of its proper formatting. The good news is that your formatting should be unanimous and look identical in your research paper introduction paragraph, in your paper’s body, and in other sections of the work.
The format of your particular work depends on a specific manual of style you’re required to use (aka APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). Be sure to check the style requirements in your assignment’s guidelines and carefully read the required style manual to follow it correctly.
If your paper is in APA style, here’s a short formatting checklist to keep at hand:
- Font: Readable, for example, 11pt Times New Roman or 12pt Arial.
- Margins: 1 inch.
- Indentation: ½ inch.
- Spacing: Double.
- Page numbers: Placed at the upper-right corner of every page.
- Alignment: Left for the entire text and centered for the information on the title page.
Premium academic assistance from seasoned pros
Hire a writer
What Is the Purpose of the Introduction of a Research Essay?
Earlier, we briefly stated the importance of writing a compelling introduction to a research paper. Now, let’s explore the core purposes of this part of your paper in detail:
- To capture attention. An intro begins with an interesting hook that captures readers’ attention. It should be a brief but engaging statement that will make readers want to read further and that will set the right tone for the rest of the paper.
- To introduce the topic. Another purpose of a research paper intro is to introduce readers to your topic and explain what they will find in your paper.
- To inform. Not all readers might be well-versed in the subject area of your paper. An intro should provide more context for the topic to help readers understand what they’ll read next.
- To emphasize value. One of the hardest tasks in a research paper is to deliver work that contributes to your field of study. An intro is a part where you can reflect on the existing body of knowledge and showcase the value of your research.
What Should the Introduction of a Research Report Include?
If you are wondering how to make an introduction for a research paper, the best thing you can do is take a well-structured approach and tackle your intro element by element.
To help you get on the right track, here’s a detailed overview of the core elements a research paper intro should include:
- Hook. Use a powerful opening line. It can be a question, statistics, fact, or another hook, whichever you see fit.
Topic statement. You need to introduce the reader to the general broad topic, further narrowing it down to your specific subject.
- Context. In this part, you should introduce the audience to existing literature and solutions to the problem you’re about to explore. Here, it can be easy to go way off-topic or make this part too large. So, remember to stay straight to the point and concise.
- Solution/hypothesis. Finally, your intro should close with an introduction of your solution or hypothesis related to the topic stated above. It should be formulated into a short and snappy statement that lets readers know what the primary subject/question of your research is.
How to Do an Introduction for a Research Paper: The CARS Model Example
Even with a clear structure, many students may find it hard to organize an effective introduction. Yes, you might know exactly what elements should be included. Yet, you might be wondering how to link all elements of your intro logically and how to introduce a research question effectively.
A good way to tackle this challenge is by leveraging the commonly known CARS Model. The abbreviation CARS stands for “Create a Research Space.” It’s a time-tested scientific approach to setting up research and introducing a hypothesis to the audience effectively while also emphasizing the value of your work.
Here are the steps this model involves:
- Establish a territory. Briefly review the general topic and previous work in the field, noting the most important ideas, kind of initiating an academic conversation. Here, you can use phrases like “Recently, studies have covered…” or “In recent years, scientists have been particularly interested in…”
- Establish a niche. After starting a conversation and creating context, identify a gap, limitation, or shortcoming in the existing body of knowledge. Some phrases to use are “However, these studies haven’t covered…” or “Yet, researchers conducted little study on …”
- Occupy the niche. When everything is set, emphasize that your research is meant to bridge the aforementioned gap. Use phrases like “My research addresses the unstudied side of the matter…”
How Long Should an Introduction Be for a Research Paper?
Given a pretty large average word count of an entire research paper (4,000-6,000 words), it can be hard for students to determine the perfect length of every part of their work. Yet, the length of every section matters to ensure you don’t get off topic, exceed the overall word count, or spend too much time on less important things.
So, let’s answer the important question – how long should the introduction of a research paper be?
We have to emphasize there is no one correct answer to this question. The requirements for every particular research paper are unique. Hence, the length of your paper can depend on a variety of factors.
First and foremost, the lengths of an introductory part should depend on two things:
- The overall paper word count.
- The topic complexity and the amount of background info you need to provide.
Your intro should look logical, straight to the point, and perfectly fit the overall word count of your paper. The general rule of thumb is to keep it between 500 and 1,000 words tops. However, you can adjust the length of your introductory part to match the specific requirements of your assignment.
How Long Should the Introduction of a Research Paper Be for Different Subject Areas?
Looking for an answer to the question “How long should an introduction paragraph be in a research paper,” it’s important to remember that the structure, tone, and content of a research paper, as well as its introduction, can vary greatly depending on the discipline you’re writing for. Let’s look at a few examples:
- Business. Research papers in business require a lot of clarity and conciseness. An intro for such work should be rather short, logical, and written in an active voice.
- Humanities. Disciplines from this group allow more creativity but still require a well-structured academic approach. A research paper intro for humanities can be more vivid, include metaphors as a hook, and get a bit longer. But it’s still important to embrace precision.
- Engineering. As a highly technical work, an engineering research paper will likely have most of the word count saturated in the body and conclusion sections. An intro should make the subject sound interesting and provide a brief history of the topic to help all readers understand complex technical concepts.
How Long Should Background Information in Your Introduction Be?
Both a hook and thesis statement of a research paper typically take up from one to a few sentences. However, when it comes to making a topic statement and sharing background information, you’ll likely need more space to ensure that your intro makes sense to the audience.
So, how to create an introduction for a research paper and provide enough context without exceeding the appropriate word count?
Here are a few core tips to keep in mind:
- An introduction only provides a brief overview of the most important research on your topic.
- Most subject-related data should be covered in a comprehensive literature review featured in your paper.
- A good approach is to focus on the key knowledge and past research that emphasizes the gap between what has been done before and what you’re going to study in your research.
How to Detect the Perfect Length, Structure, and Content for Your Research Paper Introduction?
As you now know, there are many questions associated with writing a solid introductory part of a research paper. When facing the task, you might be wondering how long an intro should be, what to put in the introduction of a research paper, etc. But the truth is that there are never one-size-fits-all answers to these questions.
A good way to get on the right track is to communicate with your professor and gain personalized advice. Alternatively, a good way to define the perfect length (and other features) of your future introduction is to seek inspiration from other people’s work.
Go to trusted resources with academic research, such as PubMed Central, Library of Congress, ResearchGate, Google Scholar, or similar, and research other studies on your topic using relevant keywords. Pick several papers that align with your topic, read their introductions, and compare them.
- Are they long or short?
- What elements do they include?
- What tone of voice do they use?
Answer these and other questions to define the right direction for your own work.
Writing a Killer Introduction Section of a Research Paper: The Bottom Line
Without any doubt, writing an introduction for a research paper can be confusing, challenging, and incredibly time-consuming. Given the large volume of this assignment and its serious academic nature, it can be easy for students like you to get stuck on the introductory part, not knowing how to make it good enough to set the right tone for your paper.
After reading this guide, you should already know about the key characteristics of a good research paper introduction. It has to be:
- Engaging
- Concise
- Straight to the point
- Informative
It has to include all the standard intro elements, such as an attention-grabbing hook, a topic introduction, background details of the topic, and a clear thesis statement. Together, all these elements of an introduction should encourage the reader to read further, help them understand the context of your study, and grasp the value your study brings to the field.
Although meeting all these goals at once can sound somewhat challenging, now, you have everything you need to succeed. Use this guide as a roadmap to writing a killer research paper introduction!
Lack the time to write a perfect paper?
Turn to one of our expert writers to get the job done with no sweat.
Get my paper done
Frequently asked questions
An introductory section performs multiple roles at the same time: it captures the reader’s attention, introduces the topic of your work, provides sufficient topic context for a better understanding, and explains how you’re going to bridge the existing knowledge gap. Hence, knowing how to write an effective introduction for a research paper is pivotal for crafting an engaging and effective paper.
If you’re wondering “What does the introduction of a research paper contain?” the truth is there are no strict rules on what you have to include. Yet, the generally accepted structure for this section of a research paper consists of the following elements:
- A hook
- Topic statement
- Context
- Solution/hypothesis
The role of a hook in a research paper intro paragraph is to grab the audience’s attention from the first line and make them want to continue reading. Depending on the subject field and tone of voice you’re using in your paper, you can use the following hook types:
- Question;
- Quote;
- Fact/statistic;
- Anecdote;
- A common misconception, etc.
Once again, there is no single rule on how long a research paper intro should be. Its length depends on the overall word count of the paper, the discipline you’re writing for, and the topic’s complexity. On average, this section can be anywhere between 500 and 1,000 words.