WRDS 150 Final: Introduction and Conclusion Handout (3)

• School: UBC
• Department: Art Studies in Writing
• Course: WRDS 150
• Professor: Carellin Brooks

Document Summary

What should an introduction accomplish, in terms of academic writing: show the state of knowledge, sometimes coming from a tradition of inquiry and the knowledge deficit. If using generalization, refer specifically to previous studies (secured generalization). Tip: the introduction should act like a funnel. What should an introduction accomplish: say what the topic is and why it matters, indicate the author s approach to the topic, provide context. This can include historical context or an explanation of the problem, but in terms of academic writing, it most often includes an explanation of the state of knowledge: offer the working thesis, or explanation of the problem. In academic writing, this often includes a description of the knowledge deficit. Common opening gambits: challenge a commonly held view, begin with a definition, offer a working hypothesis, lead with your second-best example, exemplify the topic with a narrative. Tip: the conclusion addresses a different reader than the rest of the paper.