Introduction Section Essay

2. The introductory section, usually only one or two paragraphs long, tells why the study was undertaken; a brief summary of relevant background facts leads to a statement of the specific problem that is being addressed. The Introduction section establishes the framework for the entire report. The introduction section is generally the last section of the laboratory report written. By the time you have completed writing the Methods, Results, and Discussion sections of your laboratory report, you should be in a good position to know what the issues are. In one or two paragraphs, then, you must present an argument explaining why the study was undertaken. More to the point, perhaps, the Introduction provides you with your first opportunity to convince your instructor that you understand why you have been asked to do the exercise.

3. The Introduction contains two primary issues: statement of the question and background information. Typically the statement of questions posed concludes the Introduction section of a report, however, it is helpful in writing this section of the paper to deal with this issue first. What was the point of this study? Start by writing the following words: "In this study" or "In this experiment." Then complete the sentence as specifically as possible. The statement of question is generally only one sentence, followed by the hypotheses for the proposed question for the study.

Having posed, in a single sentence, the question or issue that was addressed, it is relatively easy to fill in the background needed to understand why the question was asked. A few general rules should be kept in mine:

1. Back all statements of fact with a reference to your textbook, laboratory manual, or outside reading. Unless instructed otherwise by your instructor, do not use footnotes. Rather, refer to your reference within the text, giving the author of the source and year of publication.

2. Define specialized terminology. Most likely, your instructor already knows the meaning of the terms you will use, but by defining them in your own words in