Episode 11 - How to write the Introduction section of your research paper

The Researchers' Writing Podcast

Thanks for tuning in for another episode of the Researchers’ Writing Podcast!
I often ask researchers which section they find hardest to write and the section that is named most often is the Introduction section!
I hear things like “My introductions are very long and generic and I end up with lots of references.” or “I find it difficult to write succinct paragraphs.” or “I overexplain and my Introductions are loooooong.”
I think a lot of researchers aren’t using the Introduction section effectively and so that’s why today I want to talk you through the 7 mistakes I find scientific authors make when writing the Introduction section for their research paper.
In this episode, I’ll talk about:
(02:10) What researchers struggle with in Introduction sections
(04:35) Mistake 1: Not including the element of tension
(09:25) Mistake 2: The Introduction section is too long
(14:00) Mistake 3: The paragraphs are too long
(16:40) Mistake 4: The sentences are too long
(21:05) Mistake 5: The first sense of your Introduction section is boring
(23:50) Mistake 6: There’s no flow in your Introduction section
(26:40) Mistake 7: Using too many synonyms in your Introduction section
(31:08) Listener question: Are longer or shorter blocks of writing time better?
Podcast host: Anna Clemens, PhD
Video and audio editing: Jason Rivera
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