Writing the Introduction
Do Huu Luat
[Link]@[Link]
Recap of Lecture 3
➢Why literature review matters
➢Reading papers critically
➢Linking literature to research questions
What this workshop is about
➢Writing is part of research
➢Writing clarifies thinking
➢Today we focus on the Introduction only
WHAT DOES AN INTRODUCTION DO?
Purpose of the Introduction
An Introduction should:
• explain what the paper is about,
• explain why the topic matters,
• state the research question,
• preview the approach and contribution.
What an Introduction is NOT
➢Not a literature summary
➢Not a data description
➢Not a conclusion
Typical structure of an Introduction
➢Broad context / motivation
➢Research problem and question
➢Why this question matters
➢What the paper does
➢Roadmap of the paper
CLARITY, LOGIC, AND STRUCTURE
One paragraph, one idea
Each paragraph should:
• have one main message,
• support that message clearly.
One paragraph, one idea
➢Main advice:
• ONE paragraph, ONE idea
• Paragraph structure:
1. First sentence summarizes paragraph or main
idea
2. Give explanation or main argument
3. Give examples or empirical evidence
• Short paragraphs
◦ Simple language, short sentences
◦ For an example, see paper on the slave trade
by Nathan Nunn (2009)
◦ [Link]
ong_term_effects.pdf
Some 5 writing principles in economics
by Dudenhefer ( 2009)
➢1. Keep your complete grammatical subjects short
A full explanation of why the model cannot
accommodate this particular case of omitted variable
bias is given in the appendix.
Short subject: The appendix explains in full why the
model cannot accommodate this particular case of
omitted variable bias.
➢Verbatim from Dudenhefer (2009), available at:
[Link]
[Link]
…continued
➢2. Express key actions as verbs.
There is opposition among many voters to nuclear
power [Link] oppose nuclear power plants.
Economists made attempts to define full
[Link] to define full employment.
We conducted a review of the matter.
We reviewed the matter.
➢Verbatim from Dudenhefer (2009), available at:
[Link]
[Link]
…continued
➢3. Begin sentences with “old” information
A). An effective way to write sentences that “flow” is to use the
rhetorical device known as conduplicatio. To repeat a key word
or phrase from a preceding sentence, especially when the word
or phrase comes at the end of the preceding sentence, is to use
conduplicatio.
B) An effective way to write sentences that “flow” is to use the
rhetorical device known as conduplicatio. Conduplicatio repeats
a key word or phrase from a preceding sentence, especially
when the word or phrase comes at the end of the preceding
sentence.
Do you prefer A or B?ted variable bias.
➢ Verbatim from Dudenhefer (2009), available at:
[Link]
…continued
➢4. End sentences with “new” information
“In his excellent guide to writing, Expectations:
Teaching Writing from the Reader’s Perspective,
Professor Gopen says that if he could give writers
only one piece of advice, it would be to put important
or “stressworthy” information at the ends of
sentences.”
Short subject: The appendix explains in full why the
modearticular case of omitted variable bias.
Verbatim from Dudenhefer (2009), available at:
[Link]
[Link]
…continued
➢5. Make the subjects of your sentences the person,
place, or thing that the sentence is about.
1. Gary Becker was awarded the Nobel Prize for
economics in 1992.
2. The 1992 Nobel Prize for economics was awarded
to Gary Becker.
3. The year 1992 saw Gary Becker win the Nobel
Prize for economics.
Which sentence do you prefer?
Verbatim from Dudenhefer (2009), available at:
[Link]
[Link]
Topic sentences
➢Topic sentence tells the reader what the
paragraph does
➢The rest of the paragraph supports it
Logical flow
➢Good writing:
• guides the reader step by step,
• uses logical connectors (however, therefore,
for example).
Simplicity and clarity
➢Simple language is not weak
➢Overcomplication hides weak ideas
➢No surprises. Give the reader what he
expects
➢One sentence, one message.
➢One paragraph, one main point.
➢Be (very) sceptical of long sentences. Three
lines rule. If a sentence is too long, just
break it in two.
Don’t try to be too smart
➢Use easy language, very often over
specialist language is a mask for lack of
knowledge
APPLYING THIS TO REAL ESTATE RESEARCH
Real estate example: weak vs strong opening
➢Weak:
“This paper studies housing prices in
Vietnam.”
➢Stronger:
“Housing prices in major Vietnamese cities
have increased rapidly over the last decade,
raising concerns about affordability and
market stability.”
From topic to introduction
➢Topic: Housing prices
➢Research question: Determinants of
apartment prices near metro lines
➢Introduction explains:
• context,
• problem,
• question,
• relevance.
What your Introduction should include
➢Background and motivation
➢Clear research question
➢Object and scope
➢Brief mention of data
➢Structure of the paper
IN-CLASS WORKSHOP
• Group activity: Drafting an Introduction (25–30
minutes)
Task
➢Each group drafts a short Introduction
(250–350 words) for their research project.
➢Must include:
• Research topic
• Research question
• Object and scope
• Why the topic matters
Peer feedback
➢Exchange drafts with another group
➢Answer:
• Is the research question clear?
• Is the motivation convincing?
• Is anything missing?
COMMON PROBLEMS & FIXES
Common problems in student
Introductions
➢Too broad
➢Too descriptive
➢No clear question
➢Too much literature
Source: Kumar (2019)
How to improve
➢Narrow focus
➢Be explicit
➢Guide the reader
➢Revise multiple times
WRAP-UP & LINK FORWARD
Key takeaways
➢Writing is part of research
➢A good Introduction has a clear logic
➢Clarity matters more than complexity
Let’s enjoy
If you have any questions, please contact me at
[Link]@[Link]
[Link]@[Link]