The Introduction will receive close attention from your dissertation committee. Some experts have recommended writing it at the end but because writing it will help get things clear in your mind in simpler language it is probably better to start with it. If you are following your proposal closely then make sure this is used in preparation of the introduction. A good formula for you introduction is to put the issue in context as concisely as possible. Answer the question: why do this study? Why now? Why here? Why me? State the aims of the study.
Chapter one is very important and is possibly best put together by following a list of questions:
- Is there a problem?
- What is it?
- Why does it need to be solved?
- What is your hypothesis (hunch – if you have one)?
- Who will benefit from your investigation?
- In what sense will they benefit?
- How will it contribute to what is already known?
- How in general terms are you going to solve the problem, e.g., collect data, analyse data?
- By what methods (no detail)? E.g., a qualitative case study approach.
- What are the limitations of the study?
A good way to end the introduction is to state the dissertation objectives. Don’t forget that this is a consise intro for your reader to the subject, to put the issue in context. The background and history will be dealt with elsewhere.
Avoid using jargon in the introduction and keep your language a little more simple than in the following chapters. Also, don’t clutter up your introduction with citations, this should not be necessary as this is your summary of the study.
Good luck and if you need any further help whether it is writing, editing or proofreading then just contact me.
