How to Write a Thesis or Dissertation Introduction

Your thesis or dissertation introduction serves to acquaint the reader with your topic, provide context, and outline your key research questions and objectives. Following a few essential guidelines, you can create an introduction that engages your audience and lays the foundation for a compelling academic paper.

How to start your introduction

While the introduction launches your dissertation, it doesn’t necessarily need to be the first section you compose. The introduction is often one of the final pieces written, coming just before the abstract.

Starting with a draft

Composing a preliminary introduction as you begin your research can be beneficial. This can help provide direction for your work. If you previously developed a research proposal, you may consider using that as a template, as it likely covers many of the same foundational elements. Nonetheless, revisit and revise the introduction throughout the writing process to ensure it aligns with the following content.

Topic and context 

After your opening, provide a brief overview of the topic you will address in your thesis or dissertation. Explain the key concepts, theories, or phenomena that your work will explore. Give the reader enough context to understand the significance and relevance of your research.

Example

Offshore wind power has emerged as a promising renewable energy solution, with countries worldwide investing heavily in developing large-scale offshore wind farms. However, these projects’ environmental impact and economic viability remain hotly debated among policymakers, industry leaders, and environmental activists.

Focus and scope

Delineate the focus and scope of your research. Specify the particular issue, problem, or knowledge gap your study aims to address. This will help the reader understand the specific contributions your work seeks to make.

Example

This dissertation examines the environmental, economic, and social implications of offshore wind farm development in the North Sea region. It investigates the potential tradeoffs between renewable energy generation, marine ecosystem preservation, and local community interests.”

Relevance and importance

Explain why your research topic is important and worthy of investigation. Discuss the theoretical, practical, or societal significance of your work. Demonstrate how it builds upon or challenges existing knowledge in the field.

Example

As countries work towards ambitious renewable energy targets, understanding the complex dynamics surrounding offshore wind power projects is crucial. This research offers valuable insights that can inform policymaking, stakeholder engagement, and the long-term sustainability of offshore wind infrastructure.

Questions and objectives

Clearly state your research questions and/or objectives. These will serve as the guiding framework for the rest of your thesis or dissertation.

Example

This study addresses the following research questions: 1) What are the key environmental impacts of offshore wind farm development in the North Sea? 2) How do local communities perceive the costs and benefits of these projects? 3) What policy interventions can optimize the balance between renewable energy generation, ecosystem protection, and socioeconomic considerations?

Overview of the structure

Provide a brief roadmap of how your thesis or dissertation is organized. Outline the key sections or chapters and explain how they fit together to address your research questions.

Example

This dissertation is structured as follows. Chapter 2 comprehensively reviews the existing literature on offshore wind power. Chapter 3 outlines the mixed-methods research design, including stakeholder interviews and environmental impact assessments. Chapters 4 and 5 analyze the study’s findings on offshore wind development’s environmental and socioeconomic dimensions, respectively. The concluding chapter synthesizes the key insights and discusses their implications for policymakers, industry practitioners, and future research.

Thesis introduction example

Putting it all together, here is an example of what a strong thesis introduction might look like:

The global transition towards renewable energy sources has gained unprecedented momentum in recent years, driven by growing concerns over climate change and the pressing need for sustainable development. Offshore wind power has emerged as a promising solution, with countries worldwide investing heavily in constructing large-scale wind farms in coastal and marine environments. This dissertation examines the environmental, economic, and social implications of offshore wind farm development in the North Sea region. It investigates the potential tradeoffs between renewable energy generation, marine ecosystem preservation, and local community interests. As countries work towards ambitious renewable energy targets, understanding these complex dynamics is crucial to inform policymaking, stakeholder engagement, and the long-term sustainability of offshore wind infrastructure. The study addresses the following research questions: 1) What are the key environmental impacts of offshore wind farm development in the North Sea? 2) How do local communities perceive the costs and benefits of these projects? 3) What policy interventions can optimize the balance between renewable energy generation, ecosystem protection, and socioeconomic considerations? This dissertation is structured as follows. Chapter 2 comprehensively reviews the existing literature on offshore wind power. Chapter 3 outlines the mixed-methods research design, including stakeholder interviews and environmental impact assessments. Chapters 4 and 5 analyze the study’s findings on offshore wind development’s environmental and socioeconomic dimensions, respectively. The concluding chapter synthesizes the key insights and discusses their implications for policymakers, industry practitioners, and future research.”

Introduction checklist

Before finalizing your thesis or dissertation introduction, consider the following checklist:

Does the introduction provide sufficient background information to contextualize the study?

Is the focus and scope of the research delineated?

Have you effectively argued the relevance and importance of the topic?

Are the research questions and/or objectives stated clearly and concisely?

Does the overview of the dissertation structure help the reader understand the flow of the document?

Is the writing style engaging, accessible, and consistent with the tone of your previous work?