Introduction Section

1. Introduction Section An Overview

2. Focusing a Topic

3. Focusing a Topic Depression Depression in Adults Depression in Adults with Panic Disorder Depression in Adults with Panic Disorder who take a specific type of Panic Disorder medication Depression in Adults with Panic Disorder who take a specific type of Panic Disorder medication who complain of Sleep Disorders Question of Interest What factors contributed to the Sleep Disorders?

4. What is an Introduction • A synthesis of journal articles, books, and other documents that describe the past and current state of relevant information about your study.

5. Why is an Introduction Necessary? It helps you: • Demonstrate a conceptual or theoretical framework to your research • Show key variables or concepts • Provide an historical background for your study • Show previous research that is similar to yours • Identifies scholars and theorists in your study area • Show the significance of your study • Show questions or tests previously validated

6. Steps in Preparing & Writing an Introduction Step 1: Identify key words or descriptors Step 2: Create a search query Step 3: Identify relevant literature sources Step 4: Search the literature and collect relevant materials Step 5: Critically read and analyze the literature Step 6: Synthesize the literature Step 7: Organize the literature Step 8: Write the Introduction

7. Synthesizing the Literature • Synthesis: the process of comparing, eliminating, and merging disparate pieces of information into one coherent whole. • Do not: Discuss the literature as a series of previous studies. Example: Jones says… Smith found… Explain the relationship among them.

8. You synthesize the literature when you… • Identify relationships among studies • Compare & contrast theories, concepts, and research studies • Comment on major themes and patterns you discovered • Discuss the pros & cons of the issues • Explain a conflict or contradiction among different resources • Point-out gaps in the literature • Note inconsistencies across studies over time • Make generalizations across studies • Make connections among the sources cited Critique the Literature – do not duplicate it

9. Rewrite with Simplicity & Clarity • Having arrived upon the scene, I initiated reconnaissance actions to determine the dispositions of the opposing forces and proceeded to attain the maximal strategic objective.

10. Rewrite with Simplicity & Clarity • I must be given maximum latitude to enjoy the benefits of our country, unfettered by degrading restrictions on my activities: if I am denied this privilege, I would prefer to be permanently eliminated from the exercise of my viable functions.

11. Write Scholarly Paragraphs • A scholarly paragraph contains the following four elements • 1: Unity • 2: A Topic Sentence • 3: Coherence • 4: Adequate Development

12. Unity • A single focus or main idea • Every sentence helps illustrate, explain, exemplify, or expand that main idea • When you move to a new idea, begin a new paragraph

13. Topic Sentence • A topic sentence states the central idea of the paragraph • It tells the reader what to expect about the information that follows • In academic writing, it usually works best at the beginning of a paragraph

14. Example First main idea - First supporting point Evidence, argument, or example Evidence, argument, or example Evidence, argument, or example - Second supporting point Evidence, argument, or example Evidence, argument, or example Evidence, argument, or example Second main idea, etc….

15. Coherence • The orderly presentation of ideas • A coherent paragraph has clearly connected sentences arranged in a logical order • Use transition words and phrases to pull ideas together and aid coherence (also, therefore, in addition, accordingly, etc.)

16. Adequate Development • Ideas should be discussed fully and adequately • Length varies; however, two or three sentences are probably not full development