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        How to Write a Strong Dissertation & Thesis Introduction

        • calenderJun 07, 2024
        • calender 5 min read

        Need help with how to start your thesis or dissertation?  Explore our 7-step guide to create the perfect thesis or dissertation! We’ve also included practical thesis introduction examples to help you. 

        From how to explain your research topic to how to summarize important points, we’ve covered everything. Together, let’s understand how to write an introduction that hooks your readers from the start! 

        Ensure a high-quality error-free thesis today!

        So without wasting time, let’s begin! Firstly, let’s understand more about the thesis introduction’s length. 

        How long is a thesis/dissertation introduction? 

        A thesis or dissertation introduction is usually 10% of your paper’s length. For example, if your thesis or dissertation is 30,000 words, you can write an introduction of 3,000 words. However, the actual length can vary, depending on the scope of research, institutional requirements, and guidelines given. 

        An empirical dissertation or thesis introduction is usually shorter than a humanities paper’s introduction. Now, let’s see how to write a thesis introduction and dissertation introduction

        7 simple steps to write a thesis/dissertation introduction 

        1. Start with a broad context 

        Begin by giving a short background about your topic and highlighting your topic’s importance. Some strategies to create an introduction are: Start with a relevant fact, quotation, question, an existing problem, important news, theories, or a debate related to your topic. 

        Here is an example: 

        In an age dominated by technology, the rapid spread of smartphones and computers has dramatically changed how people communicate and share information worldwide. 

        2. Summarize important contributions by researchers

        Mention important contributions by researchers that are relevant to your topic. This is like a mini literature review to provide background about your topic. Highlight any gap in the literature that your research covers. Here is an example: 

        Key contributions include those by Rainie and Wellman (2012) who explored the concept of ‘networked individualism’ driven by personal technology; and Turkle (2015), who investigated the psychological effects of perpetual digital connectivity

        However, there remains a notable gap in the literature regarding the long-term implications of technology on interpersonal skills and deep communication. 

        Also read: 100+ Useful ChatGPT Prompts for Thesis Writing in 2024

        3. Restrict the scope

        In this step, only mention the specific factors involved in your study. This can include the time, location, the communities studied, and the central themes of your study. If relevant, focus on a specific event or phenomenon that your research covers. Following is an example: 

        This study narrows its focus to the past ten years (2014-2024), during which social media and mobile technology have become indispensable. It examines the impact of digital technologies on key interpersonal skills—empathetic listening and verbal expression—within the context of North American urban communities, specifically targeting the millennial and Gen Z populations in New York City and Toronto. 

        4. Mention the thesis statement 

        A thesis statement should concisely communicate the main argument, claim, or purpose of your research, rather than focusing on the specifics of your research methods.

        Here is an example: 

        The increasing reliance on renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, is not only crucial for mitigating climate change but also has the potential to create job opportunities and stimulate economic growth. This can be seen in the successful implementation of green energy policies in Germany and Denmark.  

        Browse through the next step of writing a dissertation conclusion/thesis conclusion! 

        5. Explain your research’s importance 

        In this step, describe why your research is essential. Also, if your research has any practical implications for future research or policies, add it to your introduction. 

        Here is an example: 

        This research intends to uncover patterns and potential shifts in communication competencies that could inform educational approaches, mental health strategies, and technological design aimed at supporting healthy social development in an increasingly digital landscape. 

        Now let us see the last step of writing a dissertation or thesis introduction. 

        6. Mention any questions/objectives of your research 

        This is a crucial step to establish the focus and purpose of your research. The research questions should be specific, focused, and aligned with the identified research gap you wish to address. If you’re testing a hypothesis, you can mention it in this section. 

        Let’s see an example of this: 

        This dissertation seeks to answer the research question: How do changes in minimum wage affect employment rates in the retail sector?

        Also read: How to Write a Dissertation & Thesis Conclusion (+ Examples)

        7. Briefly outline your thesis 

        This is the final step where you summarize all other chapters in your thesis or dissertation. The summary for every chapter shouldn’t be more than 1-2 sentences. Here is an example: 

        Reading Guide 

        This introduction is followed by the theoretical chapter that provides a brief overview of the research objectives, highlighting the intent to explore how digital technology affects communication skills among young adults and the significance of educational frameworks, mental health, and technology design. After this, the next chapter presents the existing research on the intersection of technology use with empathetic listening and verbal expression, setting the context for understanding current knowledge and gaps. 

        The literature review chapter is followed by the methods chapter which provides a detailed description of the mixed-methods research approach used, including survey design, participant selection, and the rationale for qualitative interviews and focus groups. After this chapter, the results chapter objectively states the results gained from interviews and focus groups, providing depth to the understanding of individual and collective experiences with digital communication. This is followed by the discussion chapter that interprets these results and finally the conclusion chapter. Several appendices are added to elaborate on some of the analyses along with technical documentation in terms of flowcharts relevant to explaining data analysis procedures. 

        Let us now see another introduction example to clarify any doubts. 

        Introduction example 

        As cities try to fight climate change, urban green spaces like parks have become important in removing carbon from the air. Studies by Smith et al. (2020) and Johnson and Thompson (2021) show that these green spaces can help capture carbon and regulate the climate in cities. However, it’s not clear how much urban parks in North American cities with mild climates actually help to balance out the carbon emissions from those cities. This leads to the question: How well have urban parks in New York City and Vancouver helped to offset urban carbon emissions between 2010 and 2023?

        To address this question, this study employs a mixed-methods research approach, focusing on New York City and Vancouver to provide a comparative look at how green spaces function within different urban infrastructures and community usage patterns. The methodology includes a temporal analysis of satellite imagery and environmental sensor data to quantify carbon sequestration, coupled with surveys and interviews with park management and visitors to assess the perceived and actualized benefits of urban greenery.

        Asserting that urban parks are a substantial yet underutilized asset for climate mitigation, the importance of this work extends beyond environmental benefits, potentially influencing policy, urban design, and quality of life. It offers a nuanced perspective for city planners and policymakers to integrate green spaces into climate strategies more effectively.

        Reading Guide: 

        This introduction is followed by a literature review that compiles the findings on the environmental impact of urban greenery. After this, the methodology chapter provides a detailed account of the mixed-methods approach used for assessing carbon sequestration in urban parklands, including data collection and analysis techniques.

        This is followed by the results chapter which presents analytical findings, after which the conclusion chapter discusses broader implications for sustainable urban planning and suggests directions for future research.

        Now that you know how to write a dissertation introduction/thesis introduction, you can begin brainstorming. You can research more thesis and dissertation introduction examples related to your field to strongly introduce your topic.  

        Once you write your dissertation introduction and complete your paper, the next step will be to edit it. As experts in dissertation editing and proofreading services, we’d love to help you perfect your paper. 

        Here are some articles you might find interesting: 

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        Priya Linkedin

        Priya has a talent for academic research and enjoys simplifying complex topics. When she's not helping students improve their writing, she can be seen reading poetry, playing the harmonium, or learning classical dance.

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