How to Write Introduction Paragraph for Health Science Articles
You can write an introduction for health science articles by engaging your audience, providing background information, and stating essential research points. The introduction paragraph in health science articles are essential to help readers understand several points in a written work.
Introduction paragraphs help provide context while capturing the attention of readers. It also helps set the tone of a research study about a health science topic. Authors need to write a strong introduction to keep their audience interested.
Writing an introduction for a health science article demands knowledge about the objectives, significance, and an outline of the study.
In this article, we will see the simplest way to write introduction paragraphs for health science articles. Take advantage of all the details in this guide to add valuable insights into your introduction to keep your audience engaged and informed.
How to Write Introduction Paragraph for Health Science Articles
1. Start with captivating first sentences
The first few sentences of your introduction paragraph are make-or-break, especially if your research is for general audiences. Your first few lines should contain:
- An interesting anecdote,
- A fascinating statistic,
- Real-world issues, or
- A stimulating statement
Such openers will increase interest in your research and capture readers’ attention.
2. Give study background information
Next, you need to provide information about the background of your research. The section should include:
- A short overview of current knowledge about a specific topic,
- Vital concepts or theories, or
- Controversies related to the existing topic
This part of the introduction will provide information to readers and make them understand and appreciate the study’s context. Ensure to use information from credible sources while drafting this section to support all statements.
3. Write about your research objective
You need to clearly state your research objective somewhere in this paragraph. It becomes easy to set the study direction and align with your study purpose with the objective stated in this section.
4. Inform readers about the study significance
You need to outline the importance of your study within broad knowledge available in health science. Your research must explain how it:
- Addresses knowledge gaps,
- Informs better clinical practice from existing methods,
- Improves current theories,
- Contributes to the development of health policies
A clear definition of how your research is significant in one or more points above gives it greater value among existing studies.
5. Identify existing gaps in knowledge
You can also add information about knowledge gaps from previous research in this section. This will help readers know what you plan to do differently and how your research improves on existing knowledge.
6. Write the article outline
You may decide to close the introduction section with a brief outline of your article’s structure. Health science articles have different structures so this section will show readers how you arranged your report.
What to Consider before Writing an Introduction Paragraph for Health Science Journals
Word count
Many journals have strict guidelines all authors must follow to publish health science articles. Some of these journals set maximum word counts for every section of a research article. Authors need to consult the guidelines of a specific journal and adhere to every instruction about how to write an introduction.
Other journals may also have a special structure all authors must follow to write an introduction paragraph. Take note of these requirements while drafting an introduction paragraph for your health science article.
Objective of the research
Your introduction paragraph should align with the objective of your health science article.
Existing literature
Gain knowledge about research related to your topic through a review of relevant information from existing articles. You need to become familiar with established concepts, theories, and studies before writing your introduction.
A review of existing literature makes it easy to understand the current advancement of knowledge. It also helps you deliver improvements to knowledge based on information available in existing research.
Article structure
You need to build a structure of your introduction before writing it out. Spelling out what each sentence or paragraph contains makes it easy to organize your information. It also helps you pass vital details about your research to readers with ease. You must consider all key points in the introduction to ease information flow and keep readers interested in your research.
Clarity
Avoid the use of jargon while writing an introduction paragraph in your health science article. Unnecessary jargon in an introduction could alienate sections of your audience and limit the spread of knowledge available in your article.
Conciseness
Writing articles for a health science journal should involve simple language conveyed in short sentences. Authors should write the introduction paragraph and other parts of the article with simple language.
A concise introduction will clearly communicate information about different sections of your research and will be easy for your audience to understand.
Timely essence
Your study could address an understudied or emerging issue in health science research. If that is the case, you may need to show how vital your research is to improving knowledge in its introduction. You may also need to give clear details about how your findings will help contribute to developments in the health sciences.
Hypotheses
You may have to state your research hypothesis as a sentence in your introduction. Some journals require authors to state the null hypothesis of their research somewhere in the introduction paragraph. Others may require authors to include details about the research question(s) and hypothesis in an introduction paragraph.
Ethics
Authors must acknowledge and consider all ethics related to your study in the introduction paragraph. You will have to discuss and address concerns in your study if the research involves ethical complications of any kind. Also, you will need to consider ethics while writing your introduction if your research involves animal models or human subjects.
Final Word
Writing an engaging, concise, and informative introduction is essential to the success of your health science article. A well-written introduction will pass seamless information to readers and ensure all aspects of your research get attention.
Following the tips above makes it easy to write a complete introduction paragraph in line with recommendations of several top health science journals.