Chapter 2

 Introduction serves as an orientation for

readers of the report, giving them the
perspective they need to understand the
detailed information coming in later sections.

 Introduction can be divided into 5 stages.

 Stage I: General statement about a field of
research to provide the reader with a setting
for the problem to be reported

 Stage II: more specific statements about the

aspects of the problem already studied by
other researchers.
 ( )

 Stage III: statement that indicate the need for

more investigation,

 Stage IV: Very specific statement giving the

purpose/objectives of the writer’s study

 Stage V: Optional statement that give a value

or justification for carrying out the study
general (the Stage I
setting)

(already Stage II
studied)

(investigation Stage III

needed)

(purpose) Stage IV

specific
(value) Stage V
WHAT HAVE YOU OBSERVED?
1. What do you think is the purpose of each of the five stages
in this introduction?
2. Why do you think the writers put the five stages in this
particular order?
3. Do you think this order of information could be used for
writing introductions in other fields, or is it valid only for
education?
4. Which stage is the longest? Could you see any reason for
this?
(See P.22)
(Literature review: showing what research has been done
and also providing supporting evidence.
 Stage I

(the
EXERCISE setting)
2.1 Analysis
On the right is
an example of
an introduction
from the field of
Stage II
psychology.
(already
After reading it, studied)
identify which
sentences
correspond to
four of the five
stages we have Stage III
discussed. (investigation
needed)

Stage IV
(purpose)
 Provide the background necessary to see the
particular topic of your research in relation to
a general area to study.
 To be able to do this, start with obvious,
generally accepted statements about the
area in which you are working. Then step by
step, move the reader closer to your specific
topic.
 Writers link sentences by making use of old
and new information.
 That is at the beginning of sentences and
placing new information at the end
 Introduction usually begins with factual
statement about the general area which
includes your specific topic.

 It is conventional to use nouns that refer to

objects or concepts at the highest possible
level or generality
 The setting of an introduction tend to be
general in nature. Instead of referring to
specific things, they often refer to entire
classes of things.

 Generic noun phrases refer to all members of

a particular class of living things, objects like
“alluvial diamonds,” or concepts like
“diamond production”.
 Sometimes you probably find it necessary to
refer to specific items and concepts in order
to move the reader from the general area
toward your specific topic.

 Specific Noun Phrases: nouns that refer to

particular individual members of a class
rather than to the class as a whole.
 ( )

1. Referring to assumed or shared information

2. Pointing back to old information

3. Pointing forward to specifying information.

SPECIFIC NOUN PHRASES: Referring to Shared Information
EXAMPE: In recent years the growth of desert areas has been
accelerating in the world.
 Simply repeat a word or to use a derived form
of the word.

 Use pronouns and pointing words.

 Assume readers knows the information.

YOUR NOUN HERE

FIGURE 2.3
The End