Introductions are valuable in most any type of writing – even when producing scientific materials. In this type of writing, strong introductions contain four basic elements: purpose, background, hypothesis and your justification for the hypothesis’ viability.
Purpose. Not to be confused with the hypothesis, the purpose is more general and should discuss what you expect to gain from this experiment in a broader sense. To identify it, look towards what the bigger picture: How would this experiment contribute to advancing the field?
Background. This pertains to previous research done on the same specific area, letting readers know which past work you’re building on, as well as other relevant material that can add context to what you’re doing.
Hypothesis. This is a given, since the hypothesis is what you’re attempting to discover with an experiment. When writing it in your introduction, focus on clarity and directness – it’s crucial enough not to waste any fancy words on and risk confusing the reader.
Justification. More than telling your readers what the hypothesis is, you’ll need to show them why this is a reasonable hypothesis. Explain your reasons for picking it and they’ll be more motivated to read what else you have to say.
Like all parts of scientific writing, your introductions will benefit from the use of a technical writing software. Your research isn’t the only thing that should be accurate after all – how you express your ideas should be the same.
