An opening that states the purpose
The image below illustrates an introduction of a report under the field of Biology. The opening states the purpose of the report as well as a summary of the results to provide insight of how the writers' purpose contrasts with their result. Most informational introductions such as this are detailed but very brief.
Context
"Effects of Unsaturated Free Fatty Acids on Adhesion and on Gene Expression of Extracellular Matrix Macromolecules in Human Osteoblast-like Cell Cultures" is an article written for Informa Healthcare, which holds peer reviewed scientific research that other professionals seek. Stating purpose in a lead paragraph reveals what specific scientific topic will be discussed in the article.
General: Writers should consider a lead paragraph if they are working on a dense piece and have the need to filter out their audience. Lead paragraphs highlight important points that the reader must consider throughout the writing, and also filter the audience by presenting a very specific topic that would interest a limited audience.
Ask Yourself: Is a lead paragraph an appropriate format for the overall text? Is my text dense, and therefore a lead paragraph is necessary to highlight key points?
General: Writers should consider a lead paragraph if they are working on a dense piece and have the need to filter out their audience. Lead paragraphs highlight important points that the reader must consider throughout the writing, and also filter the audience by presenting a very specific topic that would interest a limited audience.
Ask Yourself: Is a lead paragraph an appropriate format for the overall text? Is my text dense, and therefore a lead paragraph is necessary to highlight key points?
Audience
The audience of Informa Healthcare consists of professional researchers that are looking for specific and accurate sources. The rhetorical choice of a bold paragraph before a labelled introduction informs the audience of specific details of a scientific investigation. The immediate presentation of this article helps the audience decide whether or not the article is useful to their research.
General: Writers should consider whether the audience needs to know important information prior to the text in order to understand and follow along with the text.
Ask Yourself: Do I have key information the audience should know throughout my writing? Do I have a specific audience?
General: Writers should consider whether the audience needs to know important information prior to the text in order to understand and follow along with the text.
Ask Yourself: Do I have key information the audience should know throughout my writing? Do I have a specific audience?
Purpose
The purpose of this article is to explain the effects of unsaturated free fatty acids on adhesion and on gene expression of extracellular matrix macromolecules in human osteoblast-like cell cultures. Starting with a lead paragraph supports the article's purpose since it gives the audience an idea of what key information they should focus on in a dense, informative article.
General: Writers might consider a lead paragraph to isolate important information that supports the text's purpose.
Ask Yourself: Does my writing consist of information that is more important than other points in my writing? Will isolating key points support my purpose?
General: Writers might consider a lead paragraph to isolate important information that supports the text's purpose.
Ask Yourself: Does my writing consist of information that is more important than other points in my writing? Will isolating key points support my purpose?
Persona
The writers of this article create a knowledgeable and detail-oriented persona which is important to scientific research since science is a very broad subject. The lead paragraph contributes to this persona by providing the specific details of the investigation that experts are looking for.
General: A lead paragraph can contribute to a writer's credibility depending on what information the writer chooses to include in the paragraph.
Ask Yourself: Will a lead paragraph impress my audience? Will I seem more credible to the audience? What should I include in my lead paragraph to appeal to my audience?
General: A lead paragraph can contribute to a writer's credibility depending on what information the writer chooses to include in the paragraph.
Ask Yourself: Will a lead paragraph impress my audience? Will I seem more credible to the audience? What should I include in my lead paragraph to appeal to my audience?