INTRODUCTION
SECTION
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
1.2 Research Questions
1.3 Objectives of the Study
1.4 Significance of the Study
1.5 Scope and Limitation of the Study
1 Background & Context
Situates your study within a broader academic landscape.
2 Research Questions
Outlines the general rationale and aims of your investigation.
3 Objectives of the Study
Details the precise goals your research intends to achieve.
4 Significance
Highlights theoretical and practical contributions.
5 Scope & Limitations
Defines the boundaries and constraints of your study.
Opening paragraph
• In the opening paragraph, give an overall view of what is included in
the chapter.
For example:
• This chapter outlines the background and context of the research and
its purposes. It also describes the significance and scope of this
research and provides definitions of terms used. Finally, the last
section includes an outline of the remaining chapters of the thesis.
Background of the Study
• Give the background of the problem to be
explored in your study and what led you to doing
the thesis.
• For example, you might discuss educational
trends related to the problem, unresolved issues,
social concerns.
Background of the Study
• You might also include some personal
background.
• Outline the context of the study (i.e., the major
foci of your study) and give a statement of the
problem situation (area of concern).
Background of the Study
This background is typically structured into two complementary dimensions:
the Subjective Background and the Academic Background (Gap of
Study).
1. The Subjective Background introduces the real-world problem or
phenomenon that sparked your interest, often drawing from personal
observations or societal issues.
2. The Academic Background systematically reviews existing literature,
identifies what is already known, and critically pinpoints the specific
gaps your research aims to fill.
An example of The Subjective Background in a
Thesis:
"The phenomenon of code-switching in bilingual communication,
particularly in digital environments, has become an increasingly
prominent feature of everyday discourse among Indonesian-English
speakers (Point). This trend is driven by the need to navigate complex
social dynamics in online interactions, where language choice
functions as a tool for managing politeness, expressing group identity,
and facilitating audience accommodation (Reason). Previous
observations in informal social media contexts reveal that bilingual
users often alternate between languages not only for lexical
convenience but also to soften requests, signal familiarity, or maintain
conversational harmony, reflecting a nuanced awareness of social
relationships. Holmes (2013) asserts that "language choice is often a
reflection of social meanings, including solidarity, politeness, and
social distance" (p. 97), underscoring the strategic dimension of code-
switching in everyday interactions (Evidence). As digital platforms
continue to blur the boundaries between formal and informal
communication, understanding the pragmatic functions of code-
An example of Academic Background (Gap of Study)
"A growing body of research has examined language attitudes towards
regional dialects in Indonesia, particularly focusing on Javanese and
Sundanese speakers. However, the sociolinguistic perceptions of the
Madurese language remain under-researched within the broader discourse of
language ideology studies. Understanding how Madurese speakers perceive
their own language is crucial, as these perceptions influence language
maintenance, identity formation, and linguistic policy implications. Previous
studies by Smith (2018) and Hartono (2020) have provided valuable insights
into language attitudes in urban multilingual contexts, yet their analyses
predominantly center on dominant ethnic groups, with limited reference to
Madurese communities. While some research has explored the structural
features of Madurese (e.g., phonology and syntax), comprehensive
sociolinguistic investigations into community-level language ideologies are
scarce. This gap highlights a pressing need to explore how Madurese
speakers negotiate their linguistic identity within Indonesia’s multicultural
society. Addressing this gap, the present study seeks to contribute original
empirical data and critical analysis on the sociolinguistic attitudes of
Madurese speakers, thus advancing academic discussions on language
How to write a good introduction
• Move 1 establish your territory (say what the
topic is about)
• Move 2 establish a niche (show why there needs
to be further research on your topic)
• Move 3 introduce the current research (make
hypotheses; state the research questions)
1. Establish Your Territory
Begin by introducing the broader topic and its significance.
(e.g. speech acts in home alone movie)
For example:
Speech acts are a critical aspect of Pragmatics that encompass the various
actions performed through language, such as requesting, promising, or
apologizing. In the film 'Home Alone,' these speech acts are pivotal in
conveying characters' intentions and emotions, illustrating the complexities of
communication in both comedic and dramatic contexts
2. Establish a Niche
Identify the gap in existing research and highlight the need for
further analysis of speech acts within this specific film.
For example:
"While there has been considerable analysis of communication
in film, the specific use of speech acts in 'Home Alone' has not
been thoroughly examined. This oversight leaves a gap in
understanding how the film’s dialogue contributes to character
development and thematic elements, particularly in the context
of a family-centric narrative that blends humor with deeper
emotional undertones.
3. Introduce the Current Research
• Clearly outline your research questions or hypotheses related to
speech acts in the movie.
• "This study aims to explore how speech acts in 'Home Alone' function
to enhance character relationships and drive the plot. Specifically, it
will address the following research questions: What types of speech
acts are most prevalent in key scenes? How do these acts reflect the
characters' motivations and emotional states? What role do these
speech acts play in advancing the film’s themes of family and
independence?“
• In the thesis, the specific RQs will be elaborated in the section
Research Questions
Research Questions (RQs)
• A good research question defines the study and helps to
seek an answer to the research.
• A clear research question guides the thesis to define
exactly what to find out and its objectives.
• The question addresses issues or problems which is
answered through analysis and interpretation of data.
• Write in the form of question.
Research Questions (RQs)
• Is my RQ something that I am curious about
and others might care about?
• Is my RQ researchable within the time
frame of the assignment? given the resources
available at my location?
Research Questions (RQs)
• Is my RQ measurable? What type of information do I
need? Can I find actual data to support or contradict a
position?
• What sources will have the type of information that I need
to answer my RQ (journals, books, internet resources,
government documents, interviews with people)?
Objectives
• SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable,
Relevant, and Time-bound).
• Write in the form of statement and in line
with the RQs
Significance (Theoretical & Practical)
Theoretical significance refers to the importance
of a research topic or finding for advancing our
understanding of a particular field or area of study.
It relates to the extent to which a study contributes
to the development of new theories, hypotheses, or
models.
Significance (Theoretical & Practical)
Practical significance refers to the importance of a
research topic or finding for addressing real-world
problems or improving practical outcomes.
It relates to the extent to which a study has the potential
to inform policy or practice, improve the lives of
individuals or communities, or generate tangible benefits.
Significance (Theoretical & Practical)
In short, theoretical significance is concerned with
the advancement of knowledge, while practical
significance is concerned with the application of
knowledge.
Example
• This study examines the use and interpretation of indirect speech acts in
cross-cultural business negotiations between American and Japanese
executives.
• Theoretical Significance
• This study contributes to the advancement of knowledge in Pragmatics. It
expands theoretical understanding of the way cultural background influences
the production and interpretation of indirect speech acts. It builds upon
Searle's speech act theory and Brown and Levinson's politeness theory by
demonstrating how these concepts manifest differently in American and
Japanese business contexts. The research also contributes to the development
of a more nuanced model of intercultural pragmatic competence, for example
shows theoretical significance because it extends existing pragmatic theories
(speech act theory and politeness theory), advances understanding of cultural
influences on pragmatic phenomena and contributes to the theoretical
framework of intercultural pragmatic competence
• Practical Significance
• This aspect focuses on how the knowledge gained can be applied in
real-world settings.
• It has practical applications for international business
communication training. By identifying specific patterns of indirect
speech acts used in American-Japanese negotiations, the study can
inform the development of targeted communication strategies for
businesspeople engaged in cross-cultural negotiations. Additionally,
it provides a basis for creating pragmatics-focused language
training programs for international business students and
professionals. Furthermore, it informs the development of cross-
cultural communication strategies for business, provides a
foundation for designing pragmatics-focused language training
programs, addresses real-world challenges in international business
communication
Scope and Limitation
• Scope refers to the problem or issue that the
researcher wants to study with the project.
• Limitations is the term used for constraints that
impact the researcher’s ability to effectively
study the scope of the project.
For example:
• This thesis will explore the use of speech acts in the film
'Home Alone,' focusing specifically on requests and
commands within key scenes to analyze how these
interactions reflect themes of family and independence.
However, the study is limited to this single film, which
may restrict generalizability to other contexts.
Additionally, cultural nuances and the film's temporal
context may affect interpretation. It uses the theory
proposed by Searle (2020) to analyze…… and the theory
of Brown & Levinson (2021) to analyze……