Thesis and Dissertation Writing in a Second Language: a handbook for Supervisors

Writing the Introduction

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Writing the Introduction
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This chapter discusses the role of the Introduction in relation to the thesis as
a whole, the typical structure of the Introduction and some of the linguistic
characteristics of thesis Introductions. Examples of Introductions from a sci-
ence thesis and a social science thesis are examined in terms of the proposed
framework and suggestions for supervisors provided.
The role of the introductory chapter in the thesis:
creating a research space
We have found that despite the growing variation in thesis structure and
organization at the macro-level, it is useful to begin by considering the role of
the Introduction in relation to the thesis in its entirety. The thesis is said to
be shaped like an hourglass that is open at the top and bottom (see Figure 6.1
on p.84). The Introduction sits in the upper open end of the hourglass bowl
to indicate that it is in the Introduction that the researcher clearly signals the
relationship between the specific topic of the thesis and the field of work into
which the thesis is being inserted.
Chapter 4 (on writing research proposals) illustrated the importance of
situating the proposed research in relation to a field of inquiry. This is, in
large part, the role of the introductory chapter. As all our work in some way
talks to previous work and develops upon it, the top of the hourglass is open
and the ‘bulb’ of the glass is broad. As the thesis develops to focus on the
specific topic of the research and the particular methodology employed, the
Table 6.1 Typical moves in thesis Introductions
Move 1
Establishing a research territory
a by showing that the general research area is important, central,
interesting, problematic, or relevant in some way (optional)
b by providing background information about the topic (optional)
c by introducing and reviewing items of previous research in the area 
(obligatory)
d by defining terms (optional)
Move 2
Establishing a niche
a by indicating a gap in the previous research, raising a question about it,
or extending previous knowledge in some way (obligatory)
b by identifying a problem/need (optional)
Move 3
Occupying the niche
a by outlining purposes/aims, or stating the nature of the present 
research or research questions/hypotheses (obligatory)
b by announcing principal findings/stating value of research (optional)
c by indicating the structure of the thesis and providing mini-synopses 
(previews) of each subsequent chapter (obligatory)
d by outlining the theoretical position (optional)
e by describing the methods used in the study (optional)
Source: based on Swales and Feak 1994: 175 and Bunton 2002: 67

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Writing the Introduction
hourglass narrows, only to broaden out when the findings/results are exam-
ined and then discussed in terms of how they add to the body of existing
knowledge in the field. Whereas in many journal articles the introductory
section will contain a review of the relevant literature, in the thesis, the lit-
erature is almost always reviewed in a separate chapter or sometimes in more
than one chapter. This is in fact one of the distinguishing characteristics of
the thesis as its length allows for the development of an extensive literature
review and explicit theoretical framework. It is particularly important for
the thesis writer, who is both a student and a novice member of the research
community, to locate his/her work adequately in relation to the field and
acknowledge their intellectual ‘debts’ explicitly. The Introduction, nonethe-
less, typically reviews some of the key literature in the field in order to
situate the research.
Only two of the 20 PhD thesis Introductions examined by Starfield and
Ravelli (2006) were numbered Chapter 1. The other 18 were therefore
located outside the numbering system and preceded the first chapter –
underlining the overview function of the Introduction and how important
it is for the student writer to preview the entire thesis structure in their
introductory chapter.