Q Instructions for Introduction section of Researched Argument The introductory paragraphs of any academic essay are important for setting the tone of the essay and engaging the reader’s attention. Content • Establish the importance of the issue. • History: Provide historical/background information on the issue by outlining its role from some relevant time in the past until the present day. Include notable dates/events. Provide definitions of uncommon terms (if needed). • Context: What have been some approaches to addressing/solving the issue and why have they not worked? How have politics, economics, or social constructs influenced its treatment? • Source material: Incorporate scholarly source information that is properly documented using APA formatting rules. • Establish the thesis statement—the central idea of the paper. This must be a debatable idea—not an unarguable fact. APA Style and Formatting • Clearly organize your writing. Use an easy-to-read, yet academic style. (Avoid stilted or overly arduous diction; also avoid colloquial and informal language). • Follow APA formatting regarding the placement of the title, 1-inch margins, double-spacing, etc. Note that Microsoft Word places extra default space between paragraphs. To adjust this, go to the “Page Layout” tab in Word. Find the option for “After” spacing and change it from 10 to 0. • Write in third person (i.e. no “you, your, I, we,” etc.) and avoid the awkward use of the pronoun “one” as a substitute for a concrete noun. • Avoid vague, redundant remarks, or slang and is written in Standard Written English (i.e. no contractions, correct subject/verb/pronoun agreement, correct punctuation, etc.). • Start on page 3 of the manuscript. The title page is page 1, and the abstract (which you will write later) will be on page 2. Sources • Introduce sources with a signal phrase to properly integrate them into the text. Do not drop them in without one. Use the name of the expert or article title, then cite by adding a page number or paragraph number within parentheses. For example (Belli, 2010, p. 23). Make sure quotations over 40 words follow the special format for longer quotations. • All direct quotations, statistics, paraphrases and summaries must be cited. Even if you take an author’s ideas but not his words (i.e., paraphrase/summary) you must include an APA citation. • All direct quotations must indicate page numbers if the original source is paginated. 1) Page numbers assigned by a home or office printer are not considered pagination that can be referenced, as the numbers given by such printers vary. 2) Most online journal articles can be found in .pdf full text format, which will have clearly marked page numbers. 3) If there are no page numbers, then the quote must be noted with a paragraph number (para. 5). • Common knowledge (e.g. general historical facts, general scientific concepts, etc.) does not need to be cited. Other information is considered common knowledge when it is found un-cited in at least 10 different reputable sources. 1) Do not fall into the trap of taking direct language (quote) from a source that contains common knowledge and not citing it. Remember, no matter what the content is, you must always cite a quote. 2) If something is common knowledge, but only within your field, cite it for the audience member outside of your field. Note: Every first draft assignment of your researched argument will have a References page that will be updated with every step. Even if you did not add any new sources for a given section, make sure you include the references page with each draft. Helpful Tips • Try drafting different openings to see which one you think works best. o Do not get in the habit of thinking that the first draft is the best and only draft. o Be prepared to write several drafts before submitting a document for instructor feedback. • Think like a reader by imagining your writing from the point of view of the audience. o What type of feedback would you give your introduction if you saw it published in a journal? • Think about the organization of the information in the introduction. o Is there a clear pattern present, or does it seem chaotic? How can you make it less chaotic? • Carefully review the example essays found through the Sample Essays link, and consult the example essays in the Perrin guide as well as OWL to get an understanding of what is required for an introduction.