25.7.08

self study on jim's blog questions

1 Looking at the information on both the websites – what should a good introduction contain?
  • It should include a few general statements about the subject to provide a background to your essay and to attract the reader's attention.
  • It should also include a statement of the specific subdivisions of the topic and/or indication of how the topic is going to be tackled in order to specifically address the question
  • It should introduce the central idea or the main purpose of the writing.
  • provide an overview of the coverage and/or structure of the writing

2 On the University of Manchester page, look at the suggested language for different sections of the introduction. Which verb tenses are most commonly used in each section?

  • Establishing the importance of the topic:

present simple

  • Establishing the importance of the topic (time frame given):

present perfect:Recent developments in X have heightened the need for ......

past simple:X proved an important literary genre in the early Y community

  • Highlighting a problem or controversy in the field of study

present contiue :However, these rapid changes are having a serious effect

present simple :However, a major problem with this kind of application is ......

present perfect:To date there has been little agreement on what ......

  • Highlighting a knowledge gap in the field of study:

present perfec:So far, however, there has been little discussion about

  • Focus and aim:

future:This paper will focus on/examine/give an account of ......

present simple :This paper seeks to address the following questions:

  • Outline of structure:

past simple:The main questions/issues addressed in this paper are: a), b and c)

present perfect:The essay has been organised in the following way.

future:The first section of this paper will examine ......


  1. What is the introduction a chance for you to do?

The chance to make a first impression


  1. Why do you think planning is important when you are writing an introduction?

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