The introduction should answer three important questions:

1. What am I writing about?

2. Why is it important? \

3. What do I want the reader to know about it?

An introduction should establish the topic with a strong opening that grabs the reader’s attention before giving an overview of recent research on your chosen topic. Avoid going too in-depth in the introduction; deep dives into your topic should be saved for the body of the paper. Background and historical context help explain to the reader why your research is important. The type of information you share will vary by discipline. As you reach the end of the introduction, you should begin to establish what you want the reader to know about your topic and research. This may include your focus and scope, the problem statement, and your specific research question(s), hypotheses, or objectives. Again, the information you choose to share here will vary depending on your discipline. It is always a good idea to check major academic journals within your field for examples of current best practices.