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The Key to the Introduction: Goals, Objectives, and Hypotheses. Today’s agenda: Examine the Introductions of papers written by students in past classes. In-class writing: draft the Introduction of your paper.
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The Key to the Introduction: Goals, Objectives, and Hypotheses Today’s agenda: Examine the Introductions of papers written by students in past classes. In-class writing: draft the Introduction of your paper. Presentations of the Introductions of each student’s study (1-minute each).
Class activity Examination of Introductions in papers written by students in my past classes based on field trips. I have modified the actual papers for instructional purposes. The idea is to see in the work of others the kinds of mistakes that we might make. This should help develop the skills needed to edit our own work. As in many tasks, the ability to “self-correct” is essential for increased writing proficiency.
In-class activity (20 minutes): Begin to write the Introduction of your own study, building on the statement of objectives that you already did. You may find it helpful to write an outline, or list the topics of each of the paragraphs. Where do you want to begin, and how do you want to lead the reader to your objectives?
Next, Let’s hear your outline of the Introduction of your own study (1-minute each). Why do we make these presentations so short? The idea is to make you focus on what is really important. Remember, good writing is concise and precise.
Wrap-up on the Introduction: The beginning is essential if you are to draw in readers from a wide range of disciplines, which you should want to do. Where to begin? This depends on the intended audience and what you perceive as the most interesting aspect. The paragraphs that follow must flow smoothly, leading progressively to sharper focus on the specific goals and hypotheses. Do not over-emphasize details such as site and species too early or you will drive away prospective readers. The last paragraph is crucial; it lays out the overall goals or objectives and the specific hypotheses or predictions. All these concepts must have been foreshadowed by text earlier in the Introduction. Do not spring something on the readers that they do not expect!
Assignment: Take an Introduction and edit it. Try to use the track-changes mode in MS Word. Save both a version with track changes and a version that has been cleaned up (i.e., accept all changes) so you can see the difference. E-mail me the version with the changes tracked so I can see them. Work on the Introduction of your own paper.
