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CAJCS Extended Essay Guide: WRITING THE INTRODUCTION

Important and relevant information to assist you in writing your Extended Essay.

WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE INTRODUCTION?

The introduction should tell the reader what to expect in the Essay. The Introduction should make clearer to the reader the focus of the essay, the scope of the research, in particular, an indication of the sources to be used, and an insight into the line of argument to be taken. 

There are 5 core things to explicitly mention in the introduction:

1. The Research Question

2. Some context with regard to the topic

3. Outline of the arguments

4. Why is it worthy of investigations

5. Methodological approach and/or source material used to arrive at the conclusion

Note: Recommended word count for the introduction: 300-450 words

CRITERIA A- INTRODUCTION FROM SUBJECT REPORT

RESEARCH QUESTION

METHODOLOGY

WHAT IS CONSIDERED GROUNDS FOR WORTHINESS OF INVESTIGATION AND WHAT IS NOT?

The following list gives some indication of what is considered grounds for worthiness of investigation and what is not.

Worthiness of investigation because:
  • The question has contemporary application (for example, environmental benefits)
  • The issues the question explores are controversial in nature (that is, they generate debate and have differing opinions relating to them rather than being simply scandalous in nature)
  • The conclusion to this question may shed light on other areas or issues
  • The investigation challenges existing theories or viewpoints
  • The investigation explores the validity or reliability of a chosen theory or approach
  • The question has not been covered or investigated before
  • The question relates to a core field of contemporary research
  • The topic is important in a geo-political sense as it affects X and Y groups of people
  • The conclusions arrived at will enable greater understanding of the topic
  • The conclusions arrived at will clarify existing misconceptions

AVOID
  • Selecting an investigation simply because the student likes the topic.
  • Selecting an investigation simply because the student has  a good teacher.
  • Selecting an investigation because the student was instructed to do so.
  • Selecting a topic where the conclusions act as a springboard for preaching or one-dimensional arguments.
  • Making emotional appeals (for example, if everyone did “X” the world would be a better place

INTRODUCTION CHECKLIST

  • ____ Does your introduction include some background information and place the topic in an appropriate context

  • _____ Is your research question clearly and exactly focused, and stated (in bold)?

  • _____ Does your introduction explain the significance and context of your topic? (This topic is an important because…)

  • _____ Does your introduction explain why your topic is worthy of investigation and still have contemporary relevance? (This topic is worthy of investigation because…)

  • _____ Does your introduction explain how the research question relates to existing knowledge?

  • _____ Did you avoid writing lengthy, irrelevant background material?

  • _____ Did you give the game plan for the rest of the essay?

  • _____ Is it clear where your intro ends?

EXAMPLE OF A GOOD INTRODUCTION

CONTEXT

OUTLINE OF ARGUMENT

EFFECTIVE INTRODUCTION

        

WHAT TO AVOID IN THE INTRODUCTION?

Descriptive backgrounds

Avoid narrating  the extensive background of the chosen topic as this is often is either irrelevant or ends up being purely descriptive filler.  Keep it to the points and relevant to the focus of the RQ.

Examples of poor introductions:

History on Hitler’s rise to power

  • Candidate mentions details of Hitler’s childhood and upbringing.

English EE on representations of justice in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird

  • Candidate offers biographical information on Harper Lee.

Biology EE on optical isomers

  • Candidate offers an account of the historical development of research on said topic beginning with Louis Pasteur’s early pioneering work.

Biography

Biographical data, although useful under certain circumstances, is usually a poor substitute for proper research and analysis into a given topic. If anything, it often leads to a reductionist approach whereby the work of a given individual is summarized as an extension of their actual life. It has next to no place in the EE as a whole, and, therefore, should be avoided in the introduction as well.

Political or religious stance

The introduction (or EE as a whole) is no place to outline personal political or religious agenda

Personal pronouns

As the EE is intended to be an academic-style reseach paper and use of the personal pronouns (“I, “my” and so on) is best avoided on the whole.

HOW TO WRITE AN INTRODUCTION TO AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY