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  • Career Development

Project Introductions: What They Are and How To Write Them

Welcome to the blog post on project introduction! Project introduction is a vital step in the overall project process. It is the starting point to carry out a project and can be the difference between a successful project and one that fails. A great project introduction is detailed, concise, and includes information on the goals and objectives of the project, the team involved, and the timeline for completion. Project introductions should also include a thorough description of the project scope, and the deliverables that will be produced. Additionally, all stakeholders involved in the project should be identified and their roles clarified in order for successful delivery of the project. A great project introduction should serve as a blueprint for the project, offering clear direction and focus. Proper communication is key, and the project introduction should be communicated clearly to all parties involved. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of introducing a project and the key components that should be included in order to ensure the success of the project.

  • Be clear in what you write: …
  • Explain the reasons in the introduction: …
  • Explain why it is important to you: …
  • It should outline the specific objectives of the project:

What is a project introduction?

A project introduction is a paragraph or several paragraphs that explain the subject of the project. It should contain significant project information that enables the reader to comprehend the project’s goals and parameters. You may use project introductions for:

Project introductions are common in various industries, including:

How to write a project introduction in 12 steps

The steps you can take to write a strong project introduction are as follows:

1. Write the project introduction last

A project introduction should be written after your project is finished because it discusses the key ideas from your research or proposal. This way, the introduction contains accurate, relevant information.

2. Identify the purpose of the project

Your introduction should discuss why you completed the project. Depending on your field and position, your project’s goal might be to:

3. Discuss how you completed the project

Briefly describe in your introduction the approach you took to finish your project, such as the research design. Typically, this is a component of research papers and other technical reports. If you used a double-blind study, a survey of 1,000 participants, or a review of published literature, you might mention that in your introduction.

4. Describe any challenges you faced

You can mention any challenges you encountered while working on your project in your introduction. This aids the reader in comprehending the limitations and scope of your project. Lack of published research, a small number of study participants, or potential biases in self-reported results are some examples of challenges.

5. Provide background information

If appropriate, you can go over significant backstory in your introduction. This gives your readers more context and sheds more light on your motivation. Additionally, you can use background information to persuade your readers to be interested in your project and its outcomes.

If you’re writing about a new piece of technology, for instance, you might mention the significant advancements that made the technology possible or earlier versions of the equipment.

6. Include an outline of the project

You can list the main parts of your project in your introduction. Think about a grant application that a college is submitting, for instance. A sentence like, “This proposal includes a discussion of qualifications, an estimate of associated costs, a list of objectives, and the proposed findings” may be in the introduction. “.

7. Add a thesis statement, if necessary

Typically, the conclusion of your introduction for research papers, reports, and other academic writing includes a thesis statement. The thesis statement outlines the key ideas you’ll cover in your essay or paper. In this report, we examine the success rates of visual, auditory, and verbal instruction in 300 middle school science students. For instance, here is a thesis statement for a research paper about educational styles: “.

8. Be clear and concise

Your introduction should be direct and brief. Aim to keep your introduction to one page or less. Use the introduction to capture readers’ interest and compel them to participate in your project. Avoid repeating information from your project or giving the introduction too many details. Instead, limit your introduction to more general explanations.

9. Consider subheadings

You could use subheadings to help organize your information if your introduction is lengthy. This can improve your content’s readability and clarity. Subheadings in your introduction may include:

10. Write for your audience

Your project’s style and tone should be consistent with the introduction you write. When choosing your vocabulary and technical terminology, keep in mind who your audience is. You want your readers to be able to comprehend what you’ve written.

11. Proofread your introduction

Once you’ve finished writing your introduction, it’s critical to proofread your work for proper grammar and spelling. Consider having a colleague review your introduction to ensure that the content is clear and well-organized.

12. Format your introduction

Include the proper formatting and styling in the final version of your introduction to correspond with the rest of your project and other necessary requirements. For instance, your professor or department will usually specify the style and format you should use if you are submitting a thesis for graduate school. Clients may also include formatting instructions in their request for proposals.

Microsoft Project introduction and roadmap

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  • Career Advice

How to Write Introduction for Project Work: 26 Tips

The introduction is the initial para which kicks the further process of the project. Every project, every essay, or any article if written, is given an introductory para that paves the path for the successive paras or the topics in the project.

It is important to write the introductory paragraph because it is the first write up that gives the gist of what will be the proceeding content be about . So, in order to write the introduction for project work, follow the following points:

write introduction for project

Let’s begin with

What is a Project Work?

It is an activity which aims to give students learning experience with the chance to synthesize their knowledge from different areas of learning, which is critically and creatively applied to current life situations.

It progresses under the guidance and monitoring of an advisor or a mentor.

Here you can see a video on the introduction of project report –

Source: Projectmanager

Guidelines for Preparing Introduction for Project Work:

1. be short and crisp:.

The introduction is the first para that upheavals the next successive probable content the project would contain. To write the introduction, be short and crisp, this is because the introduction of the project reveals the context in which you have made to your project.

The first para should tell everything like background information , the problems you faced, the proposed solutions to the problems and so on.

2. Be clear in what you write:

The introduction is the must, write a paragraph that must be written in the most simple but attractive manner . What you pen down, it should be clear and easily understandable to the reader. If the first part will be complicated, it will reduce the interest of readers to go through the project.

3. Give background information:

Writing the introduction means to start for why you were interested in doing the project , to give the whole background i.e the foundation from which the idea behind the project emerged. Giving background information is vital as it tells the long back history behind the context of the project work .

4. Explain the reasons in the introduction:

In the introduction, you need to explain the reasons why you took a specific topic for your project and also what drove you to do the project work. The reasons will help make your project authentic and credible as the readers love to find the reason why particular work was done by you or any other person. So, explain the reasons in the introductory paragraph.

5. The problems should be highlighted:

The problems should be highlighted in the project work and it will let you explain the question of why you choose the specific topic to make the project work on.

Remember, all the problems are to be discussed in a brief manner and not in the essay type manner as in the following paragraphs, you will surely be going to explain the problems you highlighted in detail.

6. Explain the reason why it is important to you:

The reason why it is important for you must be mentioned in the introductory paragraph. The relevance of the project to you and also to the readers must be explained in a clear manner to the viewer and the avid readers as they would certainly like to know the reason why the topic is important for you .

7. The outline or the blueprint of the content:

The blueprint or the outline of the content is given in the introduction paragraph. This will help readers know what is there in the next paras or the modules of the project. The outline should brief the readers what all the project is related to and why should the reader go through the whole project.

8. It should outline the specific objectives of the project:

The introduction is not just the start, but it is something that outlines the objectives of the project. It relates to the aims that you had for accomplishing the project and the introduction should say all the objectives that you wish to achieve through this project work. The goals and objectives should be specifically highlighted or the content of the project will appear dull and less interesting.

9. Similar related work should be penned down:

There might be a number of other similar projects too, so those too must be referred to the project, especially in the introductory paragraph of the project work. The instances must be used to refer to the context and the topic on which the project is made. This will help in making the project believable and credible for the readers to go through it.

10. No grammatical mistakes:

There must be no grammatical errors in the paragraphs. Check a number of times before finalizing the introduction of the project as the more errors, the less attractive image it will create in the minds of the readers. So, there should be no grammatical mistakes when writing the introduction as if the starting itself will be full of errors, the more least the readers be interested in going through the whole project work.

11. Give instances or examples:

Giving examples in the project work make the project very interesting and worth reading. Also, it makes the project look different from many other projects as many may not include the examples, but if you do, you will be termed different and given more preference than any other person.

12. Write in paragraphs:

The introduction should be in paragraphs. Yes, the paras should be divided into the context itself like the first para for the introduction should be the topic you are going to do the project on, then make a para of the motive behind that project or the topic you choose, then you can make the para for the reasons why you choose the topics and then write down the instances to make it more viable and authentic for the readers. Then you can write the concluding para for the introduction.

13. Do not go very long:

The introduction should not be very long but can go to one page. This much is fine to write in an introduction as an introduction will have to include all the essentials in a very brief manner like the problems, the reason why you chose the topic, the examples, the solutions to the problems and so on. Give everything in brief and not in essay type format.

14. It should arouse interest in the reader:

The first para should be such that it arises interest in the readers to go through the rest of the content in the project. If the first para will be dull and monotonous, then automatically the readers will drop the idea of reading the whole project.

15. The parts should be well separated:

The introduction has to be written in the different paras but along with this, you need to make sure that the content in the paras is separated like the similar content should not be written in all the paras. All the paras and the content must be separated.

Other Project Related Articles:

  • How to Write a Proposal for Project Work
  • How to Write Abstract for Project Work
  • How to Write Preface for Project Work
  • How to Write a Synopsis for Project Work
  • How to Write a Conclusion for Project Work

16. There must be no repetition:

The content of the introduction should not be repeated but should be different from each of the paras. Only the varied content will arouse greater interest in the readers, while similar content will only make the reader bored and monotonous towards the reading.

17. Do not disclose much about the project’s content:

The introduction should not disclose everything about the project or it will release all the interest towards the remaining project. Just be sure to write only the gist or you can say that the introduction with no particular details.

The introduction must be like creating suspense for the reader, about what next can be there in the project. Only the suspense can help your reader be hooked towards the project and the interest will remain intact.

18. Be creative through pictures in the introduction:

You can shed away the same old style of writing the introduction as you can add photographs into the project especially in the first para. When you write the examples, you can paste the pictures in the project. The pictures will add color to the project, making it luring and attractive enough for the readers to get attracted.

19. Make it colorful:

You can make the project colorful by writing with colored pens. Like you can write one para in one color and the other with a different color. This will make the thing look striking. Although it is a little kiddish, yet it is something that will attract a number of readers. This is something that maintains the reader’s interest and the reader will never leave the project with incomplete reading.

20. Start with some quote:

You can start with some quotes too. The quote of some author relating to your topic can be used to start the introduction. The quotes or any idioms, proverbs in the very beginning help in making the introduction very appealing and engaging.

21. If possible write in pointers:

You can even write in the pointers. Pointers will make things easy to read and also memorize for the readers. The whole introduction is not to be written in the pointers but the important points must be given in the pointers.

Like the references, you can write in pointers. This way the important one will get highlighted and the less important is not given more attention.

22. It makes the first impression:

The introduction is the first para written during the project and it should contain no mistake in it, as the first impression is the last impression. So, make sure, you write an introduction without any mistake or it will create a bad impression in the minds of readers, resulting in the hampering rest of the reading of the project work.

23. Write short sentences:

Writing short sentences will help the reader in reading the paragraphs. Do not write the compound and complex sentences. You should write sentences that finish in one breath. When you do so, the reading for the project becomes easy and comfortable for the reader.

24. Use easy words and vocabulary:

Do not make use of the technical jargon as it is not understandable by the common people. Make use of readable and understandable words. The technical words in the introduction may lead a reader to stop the further reading of the project.

25. Do not write anything off the track:

Writing off track means that going away from the main issue or the topic. Write about the topic only or you may keep the reader off track. Writing anything off the track will only make readers move away from the project work.

26. Be specific while writing the introduction:

When you write the introduction to the project work, be specific in writing. The introduction must contain all the relevant information so that when someone goes through the project inside do not have to think twice and memorize again and again. Just by going through the introduction one must come to know about the vital things you are going to talk about in the interior of the project.

The introduction actually behaves almost like an index to what next could be there, but the only difference is that index is not written in detail but the introduction is written briefly

Conclusion:

So, the above are some of the points that one should keep in mind while writing the introduction to the project work. The introduction is a must for all sorts of the project as it acts as a mirror to what is written in the next project.

The project must be made in a professional manner and only the professional work will win accolades and the awards. Writing an introduction is vital as it helps in starting the project work. When you are not writing the introduction and start directly, it creates a bad impression in the minds of the reader, which you certainly do not want.

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10 Easy Steps: How to Write Introduction for Project in 2024

10 Easy Steps How to Write Introduction for Project in 2024

Step 1: Understand the Purpose of the Introduction

step 1  understand the purpose of the introduction

Before diving into writing the introduction for your project in 2024, it is crucial to understand its purpose. The introduction serves as a roadmap for your project, providing a brief overview of what readers can expect. It should grab their attention, introduce the topic, and set the tone for the rest of your project.

What is the purpose of an introduction in a project?

The purpose of an introduction in a project is to engage readers, provide context, and outline the main objectives and scope of the project. It should also highlight the significance of the project and its potential impact.

Step 2: Conduct Preliminary Research

step 2  conduct preliminary research

Before writing the introduction, it is essential to conduct preliminary research on your project topic. This will help you gather relevant information and insights that can be incorporated into your introduction. Make use of reliable sources such as academic journals, books, and reputable websites to gather information.

How to conduct preliminary research for your project?

To conduct preliminary research for your project, start by identifying keywords related to your topic. Use these keywords to search for relevant information in academic databases, online libraries, and search engines. Evaluate the credibility of the sources and gather key points that can be used in your introduction.

Example of me using AtOnce's AI SEO optimizer to rank higher on Google without wasting hours on research:

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Step 3: Craft a Compelling Opening Sentence

step 3  craft a compelling opening sentence

The opening sentence of your introduction plays a crucial role in capturing the reader's attention. It should be concise, engaging, and relevant to your project topic. Consider using a thought-provoking question, a surprising fact, or a compelling statement to hook the reader from the start.

What makes a compelling opening sentence?

A compelling opening sentence is one that grabs the reader's attention and entices them to continue reading. It should be concise, relevant, and evoke curiosity or interest in the topic. Avoid using clichés or generic statements that may fail to engage the reader.

Step 4: Provide Background Information

step 4  provide background information

After capturing the reader's attention with the opening sentence, it is important to provide some background information on your project topic. This will help readers understand the context and significance of your project. Include relevant historical, theoretical, or practical information that sets the stage for your project.

What kind of background information should be included in the introduction?

The background information included in the introduction should provide a brief overview of the topic, its historical context, and any relevant theories or concepts. It should help readers understand why the project is important and what led to its initiation.

Step 5: State the Objectives and Scope of the Project

step 5  state the objectives and scope of the project

Clearly stating the objectives and scope of your project is essential in the introduction. This helps readers understand what you aim to achieve through your project and what areas it covers. Be specific and concise when outlining the objectives and scope to avoid confusion.

How to state the objectives and scope of your project?

To state the objectives and scope of your project, start by identifying the main goals you want to achieve. Break them down into specific and measurable objectives. Then, define the boundaries of your project by outlining the specific areas or aspects it will cover.

Step 6: Highlight the Significance of the Project

step 6  highlight the significance of the project

Emphasizing the significance of your project is crucial in the introduction. This helps readers understand why your project is important and how it contributes to the existing body of knowledge or addresses a specific problem. Clearly articulate the potential impact and benefits of your project.

How to highlight the significance of your project?

To highlight the significance of your project, consider the following points:

  • Identify the gap or problem your project aims to address.
  • Explain how your project fills the gap or solves the problem.
  • Discuss the potential impact and benefits of your project.

Step 7: Outline the Structure of the Project

step 7  outline the structure of the project

Providing an overview of the structure of your project in the introduction helps readers navigate through the content. This can be done by briefly mentioning the main sections or chapters of your project and how they are organized.

How to outline the structure of your project?

To outline the structure of your project, start by identifying the main sections or chapters. Provide a brief description of each section and explain how they are interconnected. This will give readers a clear idea of what to expect and how the project is organized.

Step 8: Write a Strong Thesis Statement

step 8  write a strong thesis statement

A strong thesis statement is a crucial element of the introduction. It presents the main argument or central idea of your project in a concise and clear manner. The thesis statement should be specific, debatable, and supported by evidence.

What makes a strong thesis statement?

A strong thesis statement is one that:

  • Presents a clear and specific argument or central idea.
  • Is debatable and can be supported by evidence.
  • Is concise and avoids vague or general statements.

Step 9: Revise and Edit Your Introduction

step 9  revise and edit your introduction

Once you have written the introduction, it is important to revise and edit it for clarity, coherence, and conciseness. Check for any grammatical or spelling errors and ensure that the introduction flows smoothly. Consider seeking feedback from peers or mentors to improve the quality of your introduction.

How to revise and edit your introduction?

To revise and edit your introduction effectively, consider the following steps:

  • Read the introduction aloud to identify any awkward or unclear sentences.
  • Check for grammatical and spelling errors.
  • Ensure that the introduction flows smoothly and logically.
  • Seek feedback from peers or mentors to gain different perspectives.

By following these 10 easy steps, you can write a compelling introduction for your project in 2024. Remember to engage the reader, provide relevant background information, state the objectives and scope, highlight the significance, outline the structure, and present a strong thesis statement. With a well-crafted introduction, you can set the stage for a successful project.

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How do I write an introduction for a project?

To write an introduction for a project, start by providing a brief overview of the project and its objectives. Then, explain the significance of the project and why it is important. Finally, outline the structure of the project and briefly mention the main points that will be covered.

What should be included in the introduction of a project?

The introduction of a project should include a brief overview of the project, its objectives, and its significance. It should also provide some background information on the topic and explain why the project is important. Additionally, the introduction should outline the structure of the project and give the reader an idea of what to expect.

How long should the introduction of a project be?

The length of the introduction for a project can vary depending on the scope and complexity of the project. However, as a general guideline, the introduction should be concise and to the point. It should provide enough information to give the reader a clear understanding of the project, but it should not be overly long or detailed. Aim for around 1-2 paragraphs or approximately 200-300 words.

Asim Akhtar

Asim Akhtar

Asim is the CEO & founder of AtOnce. After 5 years of marketing & customer service experience, he's now using Artificial Intelligence to save people time.

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How to Write Introduction for Project Work? Ultimate Guide

  • Post author: Rajveer
  • Post last modified: March 12, 2023
  • Reading time: 10 mins read

You are currently viewing How to Write Introduction for Project Work? Ultimate Guide

A good project report starts with a perfect introduction. Project introduction is an important element of project work. It gives the readers an idea of ​​what they are about to read throughout the project. This is why writing a good project introduction is the major requirement of any project. This article is mainly oriented on writing a wonderful project introduction and its writing guide.

In this article, I have tried to convey every small and big point of introduction writing to you. An introduction is your first call to engage readers with your completed project report.

Let’s deep dive into Introduction writing for the project.

Meaning of Introduction in Project

1. write project introduction at the end, 2. identify the purpose, 3. summarize your actions for the project, 4. give a background of the topic, 5. use of headings, 6. give an outline of the project, 7. write short and clear, 8. use of bullet points, 9. proofread the introduction, 10. avoid grammatical errors, 11. avoid palagraism errors, 12. give the final touch, final words on how to write introduction for project work, where is the introduction included in the project work, do i need to add an introduction page to my project, writing guide for introduction in project work.

If you have an understanding of your project then you can easily write a good project introduction by following simple introduction writing tips. But before we know about the introduction writing guidelines, we need to know what is introduction in project work.

An introduction in a project report/work is a section that is written to explain and give insights to the readers about the overall project. A thorough introduction provides enough information to its readers so that they can understand the purpose of the project report.

Introduction Writing Guide: How to write Introduction in a Project

Introduction writing is easy with the below smart guide. Here I’ve shared my best tips for writing a professional introduction that will give your readers a great experience. After reading this complete guide I am sure you will get enough confidence to write an Introduction page for your project.

You might be surprised after reading the above title but that is a hack. Yes! I know that the introduction page is part of the introductory pages of the project work. We add it to the opening pages of course but my advice is to write it at the end and then add it to the opening pages.

Because at the end of the project you know what material you have added to your project and now you can write a solid introduction as now you are fully aware of your project. And after writing it you can add it to your opening pages.

The first step in writing an introduction is to identify the purpose of your project work. You can identify the purpose of the project work by identifying the problem-solving point in your project. It means that the problem you are trying to solve with this project is the purpose of your project.

You can discuss your journey and the steps you took to write your project report. Discuss the methods and materials that you have used in your project. Write down your experience for connecting the readers with your project writing journey.

Your audience may not be aware of the basics of your project topic. Introduction plays an important role here. You can provide background information on what your project report is based on. This is an important thing that you have to explain in your project introduction but don’t disclose the complete solution in the introduction.

If your introduction section is too long, try breaking it up into separate headings. You can divide the introduction into headings such as background, purpose, objectives and research methods, etc. The division of the introduction makes it easier to read.

Outline your introduction. A basic project outline gives readers an overview of your project. An overview is essential as it will give the readers an idea of ​​what they can read in the project report.

A good project introduction should be short and clear. Try to avoid writing a long-form introduction. A short introduction with clear information about the topic is a perfect example of a good introduction.

You can summarize the project report in a short paragraph so that the readers can understand the project with just a brief introduction.

Try to use bullet points in your introduction section if necessary. There are probably some key points you want to highlight in your introduction section. By using bullet points, you can draw the reader’s attention to the bullet point content.

Proofreading is required after you have written. After everything is written you need to proofread your content so that you can identify mistakes and grammatical errors. You can ask your supervisor or co-workers to proofread your introduction page. Re-verify the data and numbers in your introduction page if you have used any.

Grammatical errors are possible when we write so we should pay attention to our grammar mistakes. You can use various grammar-checking tools while writing your introduction so that it is free of grammatical errors.

There is a separate article available on our blog for grammar-checking tools for your project report. Grammarly is one of the best grammatical error checker tools available online.

The introduction should be unique and free of plagiarism. There are many free & paid plagiarism tools available to check plagiarism. Using plagiarism-checking tools, you can identify plagiarized content in your introduction and you can modify it to make it unique.

I have written a separate article on avoiding plagiarism in research writing , check it out for more helpful information on plagiarism-free content.

When you’re all done, it’s time to finalize your introduction. On the final touch, you can add a few extras if needed. Organize and format your page well and style it appropriately. One final gesture is necessary to give the page a good structure and to identify any missing information.

I hope all the above guidelines will be helpful in your introduction writing journey. The above-mentioned points are really essential for writing a good introduction.

I have explained most of the points in this guide but if you are an experienced person and if you think there is something to add then please comment below so that I can check it out. Follow our blog for more academic writing guides and tips.

FAQ: How to write a Introduction for Project

You can include Introduction pages in the beginning pages after the table of contents.

An introduction page is needed to give readers an overview of your project report. Thus, it is an essential part of your project report.

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How to Write a Simple Project Brief: Template & Examples

how to write introduction in project work

Your sales team just sold a new project and handed off all the information they have to you on the shared drive. While they put a lot of good stuff in there, it would easily overwhelm your team and stakeholders—and they don’t have that kind of time to spare. 

Now it’s up to you to figure out what needs to be pulled out and shared with your team so they understand the project’s most important parts. By doing this, you’ll get them up to speed quickly and allow them to see how they fit into the project.

The perfect place to put those key highlights? A project brief.

Let’s take a closer look at what a project brief is and how it’s used in project management.

What is a project brief?

A project brief is an easy-to-digest document that outlines the critical components of a project for your team and stakeholders. While a project plan details how a project will get done, a project brief defines the who , what , when , where , and why .

As the project manager, you’ll want to create a project brief right at the start of an engagement before your team gathers for an internal kick-off meeting. The length and format—and even the elements you include—will depend on the size and complexity of your project and client. 

While you might be tempted to include all the good details you uncover from your sales team in your project brief, this isn’t the place for it. The key is to make it approachable enough for your team and stakeholders to understand without leaving any critical information out.

Challenge yourself to keep it to one page so people will actually want to reference it. After all, any info beyond that is up to you to track, not everyone else.

Project brief vs creative brief

Like a project brief, a creative brief is a document that outlines high-level details of a creative project. It focuses on the strategy and design aspects of the project and may include information about target audiences, competitive differentiation, strategic direction, messaging, and more.

If you’re managing a project that involves creative work, you’ll likely create both documents. The project brief will paint the broad strokes of your entire project, while the creative (or strategic) brief provides more specific direction for the creative portion of your project.

Learn how to write a creative brief, and download a free template.

Project brief vs project charter

You might also be wondering about the difference between a project brief and a project charter . Think of your project brief as a high-level summary of the project charter.

A project charter is longer, more formal, and goes into all the extra information you left out of the brief. Its goal is to outline all the project details and secure client approval. While it’s not the official project contract, it often serves as a scope contract between a project manager and their client and is a go-to reference when scope creep happens .

The project brief should align with your project charter but live as an abbreviated, less formal version that seeks to inform vs contract with approvals.

Your project might have both documents or just one. It really depends on what makes sense for your team, process, and project. I personally lean towards fewer documents and pages, but some projects and clients need more formality.

Learn how to create a project charter, and grab a free template.

What’s the purpose of a project brief ?

The project brief can serve many purposes. Here are 3 reasons a project brief is important in project management:

  • It provides information and clarity. Outlining the who, what, when, where, and why of a project gets your team up to speed on the work they’ll soon be involved in. It also clarifies each person’s role in the project and how they can best contribute. 
  • It establishes a common understanding to mitigate risk and confusion. If you’re not doing a project charter, you can use the project brief as a sort of agreement. Review the brief together to confirm your scope, goals, and more—all while addressing any gray areas and red flags. Getting everyone on the same page helps reduce project risk and avoids wasting time in areas outside the project focus.
  • It creates excitement and rallies the teams together. Sharing the project brief in a pre-kick-off meeting allows you to introduce everyone who will be involved in the work and establish a unified vision for the project. This goes a long way towards creating a “We’re all in this together” environment. 

Who’s responsible for writing a project brief?

So who should create the project brief? Well, that depends on how your team is structured.

Ultimately, the project manager should own responsibility for the brief. That being said, your sales team or account manager might start filling out the template with the information they have as part of your sales to production hand-off process.

At the end of the day, though, it’s up to you as the project manager to ensure the brief is fully complete and that your team and stakeholders understand all aspects of it.

What elements should you include in a project brief?

As I noted, what you include in the project brief will depend on your team, client, and project complexity. Here are some common elements that typically make up a project brief:

  • Brief description of the project
  • Overview of the client/organization
  • Project goals and/or success criteria
  • Project team and stakeholders
  • High-level timeline of major project milestones

Let’s walk through the basic steps for creating a project brief.

How to write a project brief with examples

The hardest part about writing a project brief is striking the right balance between information overload and giving team members something they’ll actually read and reference. 

Do your best to keep it short, simple, and accessible, while ensuring the information you include is truly useful. These steps can help you focus on the details that matter most when creating a project brief.

1. Summarize the project and its purpose

Start with a short elevator pitch that outlines what the project is all about. Use this section to explain why the project is happening now and how it will provide value to the organization.

Here’s an example of what the project summary might look like for a website redesign brief:

Project Summary Example: The Museum’s website is on an outdated Drupal platform. They’re looking to move to a modern, secure version for Drupal and implement updated branding that includes a new logo, colors, fonts, and iconography. With this move, they’d also like to include all the user-sourced templates they’ve been digitizing.

2. Outline what the project needs to accomplish 

It’s a whole lot easier to deliver a project win when everyone’s working toward the same goal. Show your team what success looks like by listing the top 3-5 goals the project must accomplish. 

If you can, tie these project goals to business objectives. That way, your team understands how their work will impact the company as a whole.

Project Goal Examples: Create an online solution to allow users to easily search over 100 gantt chart templates. Update the website from D7 to D9 to give content admins access to modern technology. Implement the new branding across the website. Increase conversions overall, including template downloads, newsletter signups, and training course registration.

3. Provide some background about the client

You don’t have to unpack your client’s whole backstory here. Instead explain who the project is for in 2-3 sentences.

Feel free to include any quick facts the team should know about your client’s organization or market as bullet points, like we’ve done in the sample below:

Organization Example: The Gantt Museum contains the world’s largest collection of gantt charts created by project managers from around the world. The organization is funded by engagement—user training, template sales, and in-person visits to the museum. 75% of users only engage with the museum online. The Museum has only existed for 5 years, so the team structure and decision-making process are still in flux.

4. Introduce key players and their project roles

Your project brief is a great place to give everyone a quick rundown of who’s who on the project. I recommend breaking these introductions down into 2 groups:

  • Project team: List each core team member’s name and role, and include an image to help clients put faces with names more easily. Noting percent allocation will give the client a clear picture of how much time each team member has dedicated to this project.
  • Key stakeholders: List the name, title, and project role for each key stakeholder on your project. Be sure to identify the decision-maker and main point of contact for your client if those roles have been decided. Stakeholder photos may be tough to come by, so don’t sweat it if you can’t include them in your project brief.

You can see what these sections might look like in the project brief example highlighted below:

Project brief example with sections for stakeholder and team introductions highlighted

5. List key deliverables with dates

You may not be ready to commit to a full-blown project plan at this stage, but it’s important to sketch out a timeline for major deliverables. Aim for 5-10 items to keep your timeline high-level. 

Many people process images better than text, so I recommend creating a quick, visual timeline in a project management tool like TeamGantt . Simply add key deliverables as milestones on your gantt chart, then throw a screenshot of that timeline into your project brief. 

Before you wrap up this section, be sure to mention any major out-of-scope items and/or project breaks. In our sample project brief, we called out-of-scope items out in a different color so they don’t get overlooked.

Example of the deliverables and timeline section of a sample project brief

6. Include any other important items of note

Finally, add any key notes that can provide clarification or insight about the project. You might outline risks with mitigation strategies , possible phase 2 items, or recent shifts in the marketplace. 

This section of the project brief will likely be a group of random items, and that’s just fine. You just don’t want to lose anything that could spark an important conversation or idea for the project.

Here are a couple of additional notes we included in our sample project brief:

Example of items to note in a project brief: Many stakeholders want to be involved in the project. We need to determine clear roles and communicate those to all users. While new branding is available, it’s not ready yet. Completion is estimated in 1 month.

Project brief example

This sample project brief gives shows you what your final product might look like when all the elements come together.

Project Brief Example for a Sample Web Design Project

Tips to make your project brief more effective

Now that you’ve got the basics down, let’s review a few ways you can add even more value to your project brief. 

Use a template to save time

Your time is best spent thoughtfully adding content to your project brief—not messing with a tool and fixing formatting. 

Creating a project brief template is an easy way to make your process repeatable. This saves you and your fellow project managers time, while establishing brand consistency across your organization.  

We created a free project brief template to help you get started more quickly. Choose between landscape or portrait format, then make a copy of your own in Google Docs (or download it as a Word document). Simply drop in your logo, and customize the details to fit your project.

  • Project brief template (Landscape format)
  • Project brief template (Portrait format)

Want a project brief that’s visually engaging? Consider using a tool like Miro or Figma to build and brand your project brief. 

Just make sure everyone has access to whatever tool you use and feels comfortable editing in it.

Do the work

Let’s be honest, as project managers, we’re often overloaded with projects and to-dos—especially at the start of a new project. You might be inclined to just fill in the blanks and call it a day. But that’s defeating the point. 

The thing that really brings value to a project brief is the experience and thought you put into it. Consider who the client is, what the project’s about, and what information will help your team get to work with confidence. 

Remember: This document sets a foundation for the project. It’s worth spending time to get this right.

Use all your resources 

As a project manager, you have access to lots of resources—whether it’s the sales team, new client, RFP, project proposal , CRM, etc.

Take time to talk to the right people and dig through all the documentation. Most existing documents will likely be set aside as you and your team start creating new ones, so make sure key info from the past comes forward and gets shared.

Adjust your project brief’s format and contents as needed

Your project brief will likely evolve over time as you incorporate this document in your process. You may start to see that some information isn’t helpful while other important details are missing. 

Revisit the brief’s value every couple of projects to ensure you’re making the most out of its use.

Build a free timeline for your project brief

TeamGantt makes it easy to create a simple timeline for your project brief so everyone knows when to expect major project deliverables.

When you’re ready to draft a comprehensive plan, just pick up where you left off, and schedule all your tasks. You’ll have all the features you need to keep your team in sync and ensure projects finish on time and on budget. 

Try TeamGantt for free today!

About the author: Lynn Winter

Lynn is a freelance Digital Strategist who combines 20+ years of experience in content strategy, user experience, and project management to bring a holistic approach to her work. She has spoken at numerous local and national conferences and hosts an annual conference for Digital Project Managers called Manage Digital ( http://managedigital.io/ ). You can connect with her at lynnwintermn.com .

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Expert Tips for Writing a Project Description With Free Templates

By Kate Eby | May 25, 2021

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A strong project description provides a roadmap for stakeholders and communicates the vision without getting bogged down in details. We’ve compiled expert tips and sample project descriptions to help you get started. 

In this article, you’ll find a project description outline , steps for writing a project description , expert tips , and examples of project descriptions by industry .

What Is a Project Description?

A project description is a high-level overview of why you’re doing a project. The document explains a project’s objectives and its essential qualities. Think of it as the elevator pitch that focuses on what and why without delving into how. 

You typically draft a project description early on, during the project initiation phase of the project management lifecycle.

The project manager often writes the project description. However, if you are working for an agency that seeks grant funding or writing a research proposal, you might need to learn how to write a project description in a project proposal.

The project description should include an overview of the following:

  • Project goals and objectives
  • Stakeholders and their roles
  • Metrics for measuring success
  • Estimated budget

The tricky part is figuring out what doesn’t belong in the project description. The description should focus on goals, objectives, and the overall approach, but you don’t need to include lists of tasks, an extensive background, or research analysis. In general, the project description is broad; you’ll include more detail in the project plan.

Project Management Guide

Your one-stop shop for everything project management

how to write introduction in project work

Project Description Outline

The parts of a project description will vary depending on the type of project. However, your project description should contain the following elements:

Parts of a Project Description Outline

  • Project Title: Aim for a short, unambiguous, and memorable title. 
  • Overview: This is a high-level summary (no more than one or two paragraphs).
  • Project Justification: Explain the problem or opportunity and why the project is necessary.
  • Objectives: Set specific and measurable project goals.
  • Phases of Work: Break down the project into phases that describe the desired outcome for each.
  • Metrics for Evaluating and Monitoring: Include the metrics you’ll use to evaluate the project’s success. 
  • Timeline: Outline the timeline for each phase, including the basic tasks that you will accomplish, with start and end dates.
  • Estimated Budget: Include the budget and projected costs.

How to Write a Project Description

Although writing a project description will vary somewhat depending on the type of project, the basic process is the same. The following 10 steps are key to writing a good project description.

  • Summarize: Write a one- or two-paragraph explanation of what the project aims to accomplish. Avoid delving deep into background or past projects. A good project summary will not only serve as your elevator speech, but will also help you clarify larger issues with your plan.
  • Define: Describe the problem or opportunity and how the project will address it.
  • Specific: Answer who, what, when, where, and why.
  • Measurable: Include metrics for defining success.
  • Achievable: Set goals that are possible to accomplish with the available resources.
  • Relevant: Goals should be aligned with your organization’s mission.
  • Time-bound: Include intermediate and final deadlines for each goal.
  • Explain: Briefly explain your methodology. Include any key technologies or project management techniques you’ll use and why they’re appropriate.
  • Measure: Identify the project deliverables . How will you measure success and evaluate the project?
  • Schedule: Include a general timeline, with project phases and milestones. Be sure to note any important deadlines.
  • Budget: Include the total estimated cost of the project and how much you have budgeted. (Note that this shouldn’t be a line item budget.) Use a project budget template for a more detailed breakdown of budgeted and actual project expenses.
  • Get feedback: Seek feedback from key stakeholders, customers, and anyone impacted by the project for feedback. Ask them to explain the project in their own words to get a sense of how clearly you’ve communicated the vision.
  • Proofread: Have someone else proofread the project description. In addition to spelling and grammatical errors, ask them to look for missing details that are significant to the project.
  • Revise: Update and revise the document as the project progresses. Treat the project description as a living document.

A 10-Step Checklist for Writing a Project Description

Now that you know how to write a project description, use this checklist to help you focus on the key details.

Types of Project Descriptions With Examples

In this section, you’ll find a variety of free, customizable project description templates. We’ve completed them with sample information so that you can get an idea of how to write a description that fits your needs. You can also download a free project documentation template to help you track its progress.

Architectural Project Description Template

Architectural Project Description Template

Download Architectural Project Description Template

Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF | Google Docs

An architectural project description should start with a summary that explains the need for the project. Briefly identify the site, any key design features and aesthetic considerations, and a broad timeline. Keep it simple, and write for the general public. Here’s an example of an architectural project description summary for a downtown parking garage:

After you summarize the project, use the architectural project description template to create a customizable action plan. Include a breakdown of work by phases. Note any communications and approvals needed to ensure success.

Client Creative Project Brief Template

Client Creative Brief Template

Download Client Creative Brief Template

Microsoft Excel | Smartsheet

Create a client creative project brief  to ensure a project strategy aligns with client goals. Creative briefs are frequently used for projects involving graphic design, videography, or marketing campaigns. Start by briefly describing the project, objectives, and deadlines. The following client creative project brief provides an overview of a holiday marketing campaign.

The format will vary based on the type of project. In the client creative project template example above, you’ll find a number of kickoff questions about the campaign’s target audience, key components, and messaging. If this template doesn’t meet your needs, check out other Smartsheet client creative briefs and marketing project plan templates .

Grant Project Description Template

Grant Project Description Template

Download Grant Project Description Template 

Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF  

When you’re applying for grant funding or planning a grant-funded project, it’s essential to identify the target population and how they’ll benefit from project activities. Focus on why the project is necessary, rather than on the needs of your organization. The following example describes a grant project for a program seeking funding to combat childhood hunger:

This grant project description template breaks down the description into separate sections for the problem to be addressed, goals and objectives, target population, project activities, and key staff. It provides additional space for background information, measurable outcomes, and a timeline and budget, and it includes separate columns for income sources and expenses.

Interior Design Project Description Template

Interior Design Project Description Template

Download Interior Design Project Description Template

Microsoft Word | Google Docs

An interior design project description is similar to a client creative project brief. You’ll use the project overview to spell out a vision for the project that syncs with the client’s needs. The following interior design project description summarizes a residential kitchen remodel project.

Use the remainder of the interior design project description template to document the client’s likes and dislikes in greater detail. The template includes space to note the client’s preferences for general style, as well as colors, patterns, textiles, furnishings, and more. You’ll also find space to include measurements, a floor sketch, a project schedule, and a budget.

IT Project Description Template

IT Project Description Template

Download IT Project Description Template

Microsoft Excel | Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF

An IT project description should start with a basic summary that condenses key background information and what the project entails. Keep it simple, and explain the project in lay terms. The following IT project description summary provides an overview of a plan to develop a mobile ordering app for a fast casual restaurant:

This IT project description template includes space for goals, assumptions, measurements of success, and risks. Additionally, the template includes space for a breakdown of the scope of work, including processes impacted by the project, milestones, costs, and resources.

Software Project Description Template

Software Project Description Template

Download Software Project Description Template

Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF

A software project description should start with an overview that explains the type of software that will be developed, the problem it will solve, and the benefits to users and the business. The overview shouldn’t focus on the technical aspects of the project, but instead on the final product and its benefits. This software project description example gives an overview of a point-of-sale (POS) system under development for a brewery.

Once you’ve completed the overview, use this software project description template to explain purposes and goals in greater detail. The template includes sections for obstacles, risk factors, hardware compatibility, and software employed. Other features include a detailed breakdown of the project’s timeline and cost structure.

For other project description templates, please refer to our Free Project Description Templates article .

PMP Project Description

If you’re a project manager seeking the Project Management Professional certification, you’ll need either 36 or 60 months of professional experience leading projects, depending on your education level. 

The Project Management Institute (PMI) requires you to submit each project as its own entry on the application and include the following:

  • A one-sentence project objective.
  • Your role in accomplishing project deliverables in each of the five phases of project management : initiating (IN), planning (PL), executing (EX), monitoring and controlling (MC), and closing (CL).
  • A brief description of project outcome.

You can use this PMP application project description example for guidance:

  • Objective: Redesign Company XYZ’s website to improve lead generation by 25 percent.
  • Project Deliverables: I was the project manager for Company XYZ’s redesign. I drafted the project charter and recruited a team of four IT staffers to complete the project (IN). I created the work breakdown structure, timeline, and budget, and I met with stakeholders to assess project contingencies and risks (PL). I coordinated between departments, provided quality assurance, and managed the four-person team throughout the project (EX). I conducted risk audits and communicated results to stakeholders (MC). I obtained stakeholder feedback, archived project documents, and held multidepartment training once the redesign was completed (CL).
  • Outcome: Company XYZ’s website redesign was completed $10,000 under budget and two weeks ahead of schedule. Lead generation increased by 30 percent within six months.

How to Write a Project Description in a CV or Resume

Writing a project description for successful past projects can give you an edge when you’re a job candidate or looking for new clients. When writing a project description for your CV, resume, or portfolio, clearly state the project objective, your role, and the outcome.

Continuing with the example above, here’s a project management project description sample to avoid in your resume because it’s vague. The second project description is a more effective example. It also highlights the most significant accomplishments and responsibilities first.

Project Description Before Example

IT Project Manager, Company XYZ Project: Website redesign

  • Managed a highly successful redesign
  • Provided leadership throughout the project
  • Updated key stakeholders in a timely manner
  • Coordinated communications and staff trainings
  • Completed the project under budget and ahead of schedule, resulting in improved sales

Project Description After Example

IT Project Manager, Company XYZ Project: Website redesign with goal of increasing lead generation by 25%

  • Managed website redesign that resulted in a 30% increase in lead generation
  • Completed the project $10,000 under budget and two weeks ahead of schedule
  • Recruited and managed a team of four IT staffers
  • Created the work breakdown structure, timeline, and budget; assessed project contingencies and risks
  • Communicated with key stakeholders throughout the project; trained staff across departments once the project was complete

Tips for Writing a Good Project Description

To write an effective project description, draft early in the process. Keep it high-level without going into too much detail or background. Use the description to generate interest among a broad audience. Keep it brief and free of jargon.

  • Clear: Keep writing straight to the point and don’t include unnecessary jargon. 
  • Concise: Focus on the project itself, rather than on background information.
  • Complete: This can be a challenge when you’re also aiming for concision. Regardless, the description should include the key points your audience needs to understand the project. 
  • Credible: Only cite authoritative sources and the most up-to-date information.
  • Draft the Project Description Early in the Process: Gregory Carson, PMP, is a biomedical engineer, attorney, and patent agent with more than 20 years of project management experience and who owns Carson Patents . Carson suggests drafting the project description early, ideally as soon as the idea occurs to you or your team. The description will serve as the summary roadmap to refer back to throughout the project. “All of the other details have some direct relationship to the project description, so having the project description well drafted before you begin the execution planning can save you time and frustration, in particular as changes need to be included,” Carson says. At the end of the project, you’ll want to refer back to the document to show that the project fulfilled the goals and objectives.
  • Make a Memorable First Impression: Alan Zucker, PMP, is a project manager with more than 25 years working with Fortune 100 companies and founder of the website Project Management Essentials . He says that a project description should motivate. The goal is for people to understand and support the project after reading the description. “When crafting your pitch, remember that most people will form their initial impressions about the project within the first 30 seconds. Lead with a strong statement and a powerful image of the project’s benefit,” Zucker says.
  • Write for a Broad Audience: A common mistake when writing a project description is targeting too narrow of an audience. “There is usually no lack of attention on the stakeholders that are funding the project, and they are important audience members for the project description to focus on,” Carson says. “But particular attention focused on the stakeholders who will benefit from the project often leads to helpful insights for the project.” Getting feedback on the description from a broader audience is also helpful. Zucker suggests reviewing the description with key stakeholders, customers, and those impacted by the project. “After reading your description, see if they can restate it in their own words,” Zucker suggests. “Was the restatement what you intended? If not, then continue to revise the description based on the feedback.”
  • Avoid Excessive Details, Especially Early On: Your project description should convey a vision, rather than provide a detailed implementation plan. Don’t worry too much about planning out details in the description phase —  Zucker suggests that you simply make sure there’s a clear understanding of the project’s goals and why you want to proceed. “The description will evolve as we learn more about the project,” Zucker says. “Don’t worry about committing too early. Part of that evolutionary process is sharing the description and getting feedback on it.” Keeping a high-level focus will help generate buy-in for the project. Carson says it’s key to describe the project so that others “can understand and appreciate your marvel.” “You don’t want to pontificate to the point where people stop reading or get confused about any of the goals and objectives,” he says.
  • Ask Someone to Proofread Your Project Description: Proofreading and editing are essential when you finalize your project description. But if you wrote the description, recruit someone else to edit it. “Too often as we write, we ‘remember’ what we were writing about and can miss little details, even spelling and grammar, that can impact the meaning and importance of a project and its description,” Carson says. Don’t be surprised if you need to revise and rewrite a few times. It’s all part of the process of crafting your message.

How to Write a Brief Description of a Project

Focus on the project and the problem it addresses. Avoid delving into background info or referencing other projects. Emphasize the what and why without excessive detail about the tasks it requires. This can be your pitch to sell the project.

What Is a Project Description in a Project Proposal?

A project description in a project proposal is a brief summary of the goals, the objectives, and the need for the project. It shouldn’t be more than one or two paragraphs. The project proposal will provide more detailed information.

What Is a Project Description in a Thesis?

A project description in a thesis outlines the research you’re undertaking, typically as part of graduate studies. It includes your working title, your research goals, basic methodology, and why the research is needed.

Effectively Track and Manage Your Projects with Real-Time Work Management in Smartsheet

From simple task management and project planning to complex resource and portfolio management, Smartsheet helps you improve collaboration and increase work velocity -- empowering you to get more done. 

The Smartsheet platform makes it easy to plan, capture, manage, and report on work from anywhere, helping your team be more effective and get more done. Report on key metrics and get real-time visibility into work as it happens with roll-up reports, dashboards, and automated workflows built to keep your team connected and informed.

When teams have clarity into the work getting done, there’s no telling how much more they can accomplish in the same amount of time. Try Smartsheet for free, today.

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The Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Introductions

What this handout is about.

This handout will explain the functions of introductions, offer strategies for creating effective introductions, and provide some examples of less effective introductions to avoid.

The role of introductions

Introductions and conclusions can be the most difficult parts of papers to write. Usually when you sit down to respond to an assignment, you have at least some sense of what you want to say in the body of your paper. You might have chosen a few examples you want to use or have an idea that will help you answer the main question of your assignment; these sections, therefore, may not be as hard to write. And it’s fine to write them first! But in your final draft, these middle parts of the paper can’t just come out of thin air; they need to be introduced and concluded in a way that makes sense to your reader.

Your introduction and conclusion act as bridges that transport your readers from their own lives into the “place” of your analysis. If your readers pick up your paper about education in the autobiography of Frederick Douglass, for example, they need a transition to help them leave behind the world of Chapel Hill, television, e-mail, and The Daily Tar Heel and to help them temporarily enter the world of nineteenth-century American slavery. By providing an introduction that helps your readers make a transition between their own world and the issues you will be writing about, you give your readers the tools they need to get into your topic and care about what you are saying. Similarly, once you’ve hooked your readers with the introduction and offered evidence to prove your thesis, your conclusion can provide a bridge to help your readers make the transition back to their daily lives. (See our handout on conclusions .)

Note that what constitutes a good introduction may vary widely based on the kind of paper you are writing and the academic discipline in which you are writing it. If you are uncertain what kind of introduction is expected, ask your instructor.

Why bother writing a good introduction?

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. The opening paragraph of your paper will provide your readers with their initial impressions of your argument, your writing style, and the overall quality of your work. A vague, disorganized, error-filled, off-the-wall, or boring introduction will probably create a negative impression. On the other hand, a concise, engaging, and well-written introduction will start your readers off thinking highly of you, your analytical skills, your writing, and your paper.

Your introduction is an important road map for the rest of your paper. Your introduction conveys a lot of information to your readers. You can let them know what your topic is, why it is important, and how you plan to proceed with your discussion. In many academic disciplines, your introduction should contain a thesis that will assert your main argument. Your introduction should also give the reader a sense of the kinds of information you will use to make that argument and the general organization of the paragraphs and pages that will follow. After reading your introduction, your readers should not have any major surprises in store when they read the main body of your paper.

Ideally, your introduction will make your readers want to read your paper. The introduction should capture your readers’ interest, making them want to read the rest of your paper. Opening with a compelling story, an interesting question, or a vivid example can get your readers to see why your topic matters and serve as an invitation for them to join you for an engaging intellectual conversation (remember, though, that these strategies may not be suitable for all papers and disciplines).

Strategies for writing an effective introduction

Start by thinking about the question (or questions) you are trying to answer. Your entire essay will be a response to this question, and your introduction is the first step toward that end. Your direct answer to the assigned question will be your thesis, and your thesis will likely be included in your introduction, so it is a good idea to use the question as a jumping off point. Imagine that you are assigned the following question:

Drawing on the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass , discuss the relationship between education and slavery in 19th-century America. Consider the following: How did white control of education reinforce slavery? How did Douglass and other enslaved African Americans view education while they endured slavery? And what role did education play in the acquisition of freedom? Most importantly, consider the degree to which education was or was not a major force for social change with regard to slavery.

You will probably refer back to your assignment extensively as you prepare your complete essay, and the prompt itself can also give you some clues about how to approach the introduction. Notice that it starts with a broad statement and then narrows to focus on specific questions from the book. One strategy might be to use a similar model in your own introduction—start off with a big picture sentence or two and then focus in on the details of your argument about Douglass. Of course, a different approach could also be very successful, but looking at the way the professor set up the question can sometimes give you some ideas for how you might answer it. (See our handout on understanding assignments for additional information on the hidden clues in assignments.)

Decide how general or broad your opening should be. Keep in mind that even a “big picture” opening needs to be clearly related to your topic; an opening sentence that said “Human beings, more than any other creatures on earth, are capable of learning” would be too broad for our sample assignment about slavery and education. If you have ever used Google Maps or similar programs, that experience can provide a helpful way of thinking about how broad your opening should be. Imagine that you’re researching Chapel Hill. If what you want to find out is whether Chapel Hill is at roughly the same latitude as Rome, it might make sense to hit that little “minus” sign on the online map until it has zoomed all the way out and you can see the whole globe. If you’re trying to figure out how to get from Chapel Hill to Wrightsville Beach, it might make more sense to zoom in to the level where you can see most of North Carolina (but not the rest of the world, or even the rest of the United States). And if you are looking for the intersection of Ridge Road and Manning Drive so that you can find the Writing Center’s main office, you may need to zoom all the way in. The question you are asking determines how “broad” your view should be. In the sample assignment above, the questions are probably at the “state” or “city” level of generality. When writing, you need to place your ideas in context—but that context doesn’t generally have to be as big as the whole galaxy!

Try writing your introduction last. You may think that you have to write your introduction first, but that isn’t necessarily true, and it isn’t always the most effective way to craft a good introduction. You may find that you don’t know precisely what you are going to argue at the beginning of the writing process. It is perfectly fine to start out thinking that you want to argue a particular point but wind up arguing something slightly or even dramatically different by the time you’ve written most of the paper. The writing process can be an important way to organize your ideas, think through complicated issues, refine your thoughts, and develop a sophisticated argument. However, an introduction written at the beginning of that discovery process will not necessarily reflect what you wind up with at the end. You will need to revise your paper to make sure that the introduction, all of the evidence, and the conclusion reflect the argument you intend. Sometimes it’s easiest to just write up all of your evidence first and then write the introduction last—that way you can be sure that the introduction will match the body of the paper.

Don’t be afraid to write a tentative introduction first and then change it later. Some people find that they need to write some kind of introduction in order to get the writing process started. That’s fine, but if you are one of those people, be sure to return to your initial introduction later and rewrite if necessary.

Open with something that will draw readers in. Consider these options (remembering that they may not be suitable for all kinds of papers):

  • an intriguing example —for example, Douglass writes about a mistress who initially teaches him but then ceases her instruction as she learns more about slavery.
  • a provocative quotation that is closely related to your argument —for example, Douglass writes that “education and slavery were incompatible with each other.” (Quotes from famous people, inspirational quotes, etc. may not work well for an academic paper; in this example, the quote is from the author himself.)
  • a puzzling scenario —for example, Frederick Douglass says of slaves that “[N]othing has been left undone to cripple their intellects, darken their minds, debase their moral nature, obliterate all traces of their relationship to mankind; and yet how wonderfully they have sustained the mighty load of a most frightful bondage, under which they have been groaning for centuries!” Douglass clearly asserts that slave owners went to great lengths to destroy the mental capacities of slaves, yet his own life story proves that these efforts could be unsuccessful.
  • a vivid and perhaps unexpected anecdote —for example, “Learning about slavery in the American history course at Frederick Douglass High School, students studied the work slaves did, the impact of slavery on their families, and the rules that governed their lives. We didn’t discuss education, however, until one student, Mary, raised her hand and asked, ‘But when did they go to school?’ That modern high school students could not conceive of an American childhood devoid of formal education speaks volumes about the centrality of education to American youth today and also suggests the significance of the deprivation of education in past generations.”
  • a thought-provoking question —for example, given all of the freedoms that were denied enslaved individuals in the American South, why does Frederick Douglass focus his attentions so squarely on education and literacy?

Pay special attention to your first sentence. Start off on the right foot with your readers by making sure that the first sentence actually says something useful and that it does so in an interesting and polished way.

How to evaluate your introduction draft

Ask a friend to read your introduction and then tell you what he or she expects the paper will discuss, what kinds of evidence the paper will use, and what the tone of the paper will be. If your friend is able to predict the rest of your paper accurately, you probably have a good introduction.

Five kinds of less effective introductions

1. The placeholder introduction. When you don’t have much to say on a given topic, it is easy to create this kind of introduction. Essentially, this kind of weaker introduction contains several sentences that are vague and don’t really say much. They exist just to take up the “introduction space” in your paper. If you had something more effective to say, you would probably say it, but in the meantime this paragraph is just a place holder.

Example: Slavery was one of the greatest tragedies in American history. There were many different aspects of slavery. Each created different kinds of problems for enslaved people.

2. The restated question introduction. Restating the question can sometimes be an effective strategy, but it can be easy to stop at JUST restating the question instead of offering a more specific, interesting introduction to your paper. The professor or teaching assistant wrote your question and will be reading many essays in response to it—he or she does not need to read a whole paragraph that simply restates the question.

Example: The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass discusses the relationship between education and slavery in 19th century America, showing how white control of education reinforced slavery and how Douglass and other enslaved African Americans viewed education while they endured. Moreover, the book discusses the role that education played in the acquisition of freedom. Education was a major force for social change with regard to slavery.

3. The Webster’s Dictionary introduction. This introduction begins by giving the dictionary definition of one or more of the words in the assigned question. Anyone can look a word up in the dictionary and copy down what Webster says. If you want to open with a discussion of an important term, it may be far more interesting for you (and your reader) if you develop your own definition of the term in the specific context of your class and assignment. You may also be able to use a definition from one of the sources you’ve been reading for class. Also recognize that the dictionary is also not a particularly authoritative work—it doesn’t take into account the context of your course and doesn’t offer particularly detailed information. If you feel that you must seek out an authority, try to find one that is very relevant and specific. Perhaps a quotation from a source reading might prove better? Dictionary introductions are also ineffective simply because they are so overused. Instructors may see a great many papers that begin in this way, greatly decreasing the dramatic impact that any one of those papers will have.

Example: Webster’s dictionary defines slavery as “the state of being a slave,” as “the practice of owning slaves,” and as “a condition of hard work and subjection.”

4. The “dawn of man” introduction. This kind of introduction generally makes broad, sweeping statements about the relevance of this topic since the beginning of time, throughout the world, etc. It is usually very general (similar to the placeholder introduction) and fails to connect to the thesis. It may employ cliches—the phrases “the dawn of man” and “throughout human history” are examples, and it’s hard to imagine a time when starting with one of these would work. Instructors often find them extremely annoying.

Example: Since the dawn of man, slavery has been a problem in human history.

5. The book report introduction. This introduction is what you had to do for your elementary school book reports. It gives the name and author of the book you are writing about, tells what the book is about, and offers other basic facts about the book. You might resort to this sort of introduction when you are trying to fill space because it’s a familiar, comfortable format. It is ineffective because it offers details that your reader probably already knows and that are irrelevant to the thesis.

Example: Frederick Douglass wrote his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave , in the 1840s. It was published in 1986 by Penguin Books. In it, he tells the story of his life.

And now for the conclusion…

Writing an effective introduction can be tough. Try playing around with several different options and choose the one that ends up sounding best to you!

Just as your introduction helps readers make the transition to your topic, your conclusion needs to help them return to their daily lives–but with a lasting sense of how what they have just read is useful or meaningful. Check out our handout on  conclusions for tips on ending your paper as effectively as you began it!

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Douglass, Frederick. 1995. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself . New York: Dover.

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How to Write an Introduction: A Simplified Guide

Braden Becker

Updated: July 12, 2021

Published: July 01, 2021

You only get one chance to make a first impression on your website or blog — which means you need an introduction that stands out. But what do you say? How do you say it? Should it be long? Short? Funny? Serious? For many of us, the stress of creating a great introduction drives the dreaded cursor feedback loop: Blink. Blink. Blink. The cursor-on-a-blank-screen sits, waiting for your brilliance but you just can’t find the words. It’s something that all writers — amateur or professional, aspiring or experienced — know and dread. And of all times for it to occur, it seems to plague us the most when trying to write an introduction.

Girl with notepad writing an introduction

I mean, you already have a blog post you want to write. Can't you just dive in and write it? Why all the focus on getting the introduction right?

Here's the thing: Intros set the stage. They establish the tone and let visitors know what to expect.

And it’s not all bad — introductions don’t have to be long or complex. In fact, most people prefer them to be quite quick. They also don't have to be so difficult.

Let's break down exactly how to write an introduction that's short, effective, and relatively painless. And if you're ever having trouble churning out those intros, come back here and re-read this formula to lift yourself out of that writing rut.

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Tell us a little about yourself below to gain access today:, how to write an introduction.

Grab the reader's attention. Present the reason for the post's existence. Explain how the post will help address the problem that brought your reader to it.

Writing an introduction that captures your audience can help your website traffic (and ultimately, your business) grow better, but doing it right is just as important. Here's how to write an introduction in three simple steps.

To write an introduction, be mindful of what it's supposed to achieve. The main goals here are to draw in your reader — a relative stranger, most of the time — and concisely let her know what the article is about. Generally, that consists of three key components:

Step 1) Grab the reader's attention. That looks different for every piece of writing, but we've provided some suggestions below.

Step 2) Present the reason for the post's existence.

Step 3) Explain how the post will help address the problem that brought your reader to it.

As a lover of all things meta, I will, of course, use this post's introduction as an example of how to write an intro. It contains different components that create the above introduction "formula," which you can refer to that when you get stuck with your own.

Below, we've gone into more detail on each component.

Writing an Introduction Paragraph

1. grab the reader's attention..

There are a few ways to hook your reader from the start. You can be empathetic ("Don't you hate it when...?"), or tell a story, so the reader immediately feels some emotional resonance with the piece. You could tell a joke ("Ha! This is fun. Let's read more of this."). You could shock the reader with a crazy fact or stat ("Whoa. That's crazy. I must know more!").

For this intro, I went the "empathetic" route.

example of how to Grab the reader's attention in an introduction paragraph

Writer's block stinks. Blank screens and taunting cursors — the worst. Who's with me?

2. Present the reason for the post's existence.

Your post needs to have a purpose. The purpose of this post is to address a specific problem — the pain in the butt that is writing intros. But, we have to do it, and therein lies the approach to something important: making writing introductions easier.

Just because you know the purpose of your post, doesn't mean the reader does — not yet, anyway. It's your job to validate your post's importance and give your audience a reason to keep reading.

3. Explain how the post will help address the problem.

Now that the reader is presented with a problem that he or she can relate to — and obviously wants a solution — it's time to let the audience know what the post will provide, and quickly.

In other words, the introduction should set expectations. Take this post, for example. I don't want the reader to dive in and expect to see a list of reasons why introductions are important. I want you to expect to read about what makes a good introduction.

But if I hadn't clarified that in the introduction, you might have expected the former. After all, be honest — did you skim over or forget the title of this post already? That's okay. That's why we tell the reader exactly what the post will provide, and why it's valuable.

Of course, there are other valid ways to write introductions for your marketi ng content — don't feel the need to follow this formula for every single piece of content, as some are more casual than others. But, this guide should help provide a solid framework to follow if you're just getting started, or if it's just one of those days when the words aren't flowing.

What makes a good introduction?

While format is fundamental to consistently capture visitor attention, it’s also worth considering stylistic frameworks that can help boost engagement from the first moment users land on your site. These include:

1. Telling a compelling story.

Great stories sell books — and they’re also a fantastic way to open a website blog. Storytelling is part of the human experience and if your intro can tee up a solid story, visitors are more likely to keep reading past the first paragraph.

The caveat? Don’t give it all away up-front. Not only should intros be kept short, but the idea is to have people read all the way through to the end. Instead, start with a great hook about something interesting that happened — “The one time I…”, “It all started when…”

2. Cultivating empathy.

We’re also naturally predisposed to empathy, especially when we can relate to what someone else is saying on a personal level.

Let’s say you’re running a money-saving advice blog. By starting your post with a few of your own experiences with debt and how it impacted your life, you can cultivate empathy from those in similar positions and simultaneously lend your blog greater authority.

3. Establishing common pain points.

There’s no trait more universally human than complaining. We do it about small things — like the weather — and big things, like challenges at work or home. This creates an opportunity for content creators: Establish common ground with familiar pain points.

Consider a home maintenance and repair blog. You could introduce homeowners communally dislike — such as clogged gutters or peeling paint — quickly discuss why it’s so frustrating, and then assure readers you can offer a viable solution.

4. Crafting a human connection.

If you’re running any type of product or service website, expect natural skepticism from visitors. They know you’re trying to sell something and their guard is naturally up, especially against hyperbolic or superfluous claims.

Here, it’s worth considering calling out a company shortfall — “we’re not the best, but”, “we don’t have all the answers” — and then highlighting what sets you apart from the competition. Done right, you can disarm cynical users with honesty, craft a human connection and encourage them to consider your pitch.

5. Asking interesting questions.

You can never go wrong with questions — so long as they’re interesting. Intros that start with “did you know that…” or “ever wondered why…” are great starters if you have relevant information to share.

This can’t be overstated: If your blog doesn’t (or can’t) answer the question you pose in the introduction, choose a different approach. Nothing frustrates visitors faster than discovering that blog intro and body are a content mismatch.

5 Introduction Examples

Curious about what a great introduction looks like in the wild? Let’s break down five great examples.

1. PetaPixel

Photography site PetaPixel offers news, insights, and advice about all things photo-related. In their post “This Free 2.5 Hour Tutorial Covers All Aspects of Wedding Photography,” PetaPixel uses their introduction to highlight the experience of tutorial creator Taylor Jackson, who shoots “60 to 70 weddings every year.”

This quick-hitter introduction helps establish Jackson’s credibility as an expert and cultivates confidence among readers, in turn encouraging them to read the post and click through to the tutorial.

2. Apartment Therapy

Apartment Therapy is all about helping visitors organize, clean, and streamline their apartment space, while also highlighting specific product categories. In their recent post “This Unique Tray is What Your Living Room is Missing,” the site uses one of the techniques mentioned above: Pain points.

“Even maximalists can’t stand clutter,” reads the first intro line. “The reality is that nobody likes to open a cabinet only to be faced with a messy avalanche of knick-knacks and accessories.” By establishing common grounds for complaint, the blog helps set up the benefits of the product it’s trying to sell.

3. Greatist

Greatist is a health and wellness blog that offers advice and tips for readers. Their recent starter toolkit post — “Stop Using Your Shoe as a Hammer: 17 Items for Your Starter Tool Kit” helps cultivate a connection with a simple introductory line: “You don’t have to be a DIY pro to need a tool kit around.”

By highlighting the near-universal need for a simple, streamlined toolkit, the site sets up readers to continue on and discover which tools are critical for starter kits.

4. The Friendly Teacher

Educational advice site The Friendly Teacher opens her “10 Tips for Organizing Your Classroom at the End of the Year” with a simple question: “What do teachers do in the summer?”

The answer is easy: Relax. But as the post points out, leaving classrooms in a state of disrepair only makes more work for the following year — and she’s here to help with 10 simple tips for pre-summer cleanup. The introduction works because it helps put readers in the right frame of mind — a relaxing summer — and then offers actionable tips to reach that goal.

5. BloggingTips.com

BloggingTips.com is exactly what you’d expect: A site dedicated to useful blogging tips that help improve your site. In their recent post, “How To Choose A Blog Name – A New Blogger’s Guide to Selecting a Domain Name And URL”, they don’t waste any time getting to the point of their introduction, noting that, “Once you’ve decided to launch a blog – whether for personal or business purposes – one of the first decisions you have to make involves your domain name selection.”

The biggest benefit of this introduction? Brevity. It gets right to the point. If you’ve got a blog, you need a domain name. This is a great approach when the subject matter you’re tackling is relevant and useful but not inherently compelling: Rather than trying to force a connection or create a convoluted narrative, straight and to the point works best.

Let's Get Started

Feeling inspired? Good. Next time you find yourself face-to-face with the dreaded blinking cursor, use these resources and compelling examples to find motivation and write simpler, smarter, and stronger introductions .

Editor's Note: This post was originally published in September 2013 and has been updated and for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

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  • Research paper

Writing a Research Paper Introduction | Step-by-Step Guide

Published on September 24, 2022 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on March 27, 2023.

Writing a Research Paper Introduction

The introduction to a research paper is where you set up your topic and approach for the reader. It has several key goals:

  • Present your topic and get the reader interested
  • Provide background or summarize existing research
  • Position your own approach
  • Detail your specific research problem and problem statement
  • Give an overview of the paper’s structure

The introduction looks slightly different depending on whether your paper presents the results of original empirical research or constructs an argument by engaging with a variety of sources.

Table of contents

Step 1: introduce your topic, step 2: describe the background, step 3: establish your research problem, step 4: specify your objective(s), step 5: map out your paper, research paper introduction examples, frequently asked questions about the research paper introduction.

The first job of the introduction is to tell the reader what your topic is and why it’s interesting or important. This is generally accomplished with a strong opening hook.

The hook is a striking opening sentence that clearly conveys the relevance of your topic. Think of an interesting fact or statistic, a strong statement, a question, or a brief anecdote that will get the reader wondering about your topic.

For example, the following could be an effective hook for an argumentative paper about the environmental impact of cattle farming:

A more empirical paper investigating the relationship of Instagram use with body image issues in adolescent girls might use the following hook:

Don’t feel that your hook necessarily has to be deeply impressive or creative. Clarity and relevance are still more important than catchiness. The key thing is to guide the reader into your topic and situate your ideas.

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how to write introduction in project work

This part of the introduction differs depending on what approach your paper is taking.

In a more argumentative paper, you’ll explore some general background here. In a more empirical paper, this is the place to review previous research and establish how yours fits in.

Argumentative paper: Background information

After you’ve caught your reader’s attention, specify a bit more, providing context and narrowing down your topic.

Provide only the most relevant background information. The introduction isn’t the place to get too in-depth; if more background is essential to your paper, it can appear in the body .

Empirical paper: Describing previous research

For a paper describing original research, you’ll instead provide an overview of the most relevant research that has already been conducted. This is a sort of miniature literature review —a sketch of the current state of research into your topic, boiled down to a few sentences.

This should be informed by genuine engagement with the literature. Your search can be less extensive than in a full literature review, but a clear sense of the relevant research is crucial to inform your own work.

Begin by establishing the kinds of research that have been done, and end with limitations or gaps in the research that you intend to respond to.

The next step is to clarify how your own research fits in and what problem it addresses.

Argumentative paper: Emphasize importance

In an argumentative research paper, you can simply state the problem you intend to discuss, and what is original or important about your argument.

Empirical paper: Relate to the literature

In an empirical research paper, try to lead into the problem on the basis of your discussion of the literature. Think in terms of these questions:

  • What research gap is your work intended to fill?
  • What limitations in previous work does it address?
  • What contribution to knowledge does it make?

You can make the connection between your problem and the existing research using phrases like the following.

Now you’ll get into the specifics of what you intend to find out or express in your research paper.

The way you frame your research objectives varies. An argumentative paper presents a thesis statement, while an empirical paper generally poses a research question (sometimes with a hypothesis as to the answer).

Argumentative paper: Thesis statement

The thesis statement expresses the position that the rest of the paper will present evidence and arguments for. It can be presented in one or two sentences, and should state your position clearly and directly, without providing specific arguments for it at this point.

Empirical paper: Research question and hypothesis

The research question is the question you want to answer in an empirical research paper.

Present your research question clearly and directly, with a minimum of discussion at this point. The rest of the paper will be taken up with discussing and investigating this question; here you just need to express it.

A research question can be framed either directly or indirectly.

  • This study set out to answer the following question: What effects does daily use of Instagram have on the prevalence of body image issues among adolescent girls?
  • We investigated the effects of daily Instagram use on the prevalence of body image issues among adolescent girls.

If your research involved testing hypotheses , these should be stated along with your research question. They are usually presented in the past tense, since the hypothesis will already have been tested by the time you are writing up your paper.

For example, the following hypothesis might respond to the research question above:

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The final part of the introduction is often dedicated to a brief overview of the rest of the paper.

In a paper structured using the standard scientific “introduction, methods, results, discussion” format, this isn’t always necessary. But if your paper is structured in a less predictable way, it’s important to describe the shape of it for the reader.

If included, the overview should be concise, direct, and written in the present tense.

  • This paper will first discuss several examples of survey-based research into adolescent social media use, then will go on to …
  • This paper first discusses several examples of survey-based research into adolescent social media use, then goes on to …

Full examples of research paper introductions are shown in the tabs below: one for an argumentative paper, the other for an empirical paper.

  • Argumentative paper
  • Empirical paper

Are cows responsible for climate change? A recent study (RIVM, 2019) shows that cattle farmers account for two thirds of agricultural nitrogen emissions in the Netherlands. These emissions result from nitrogen in manure, which can degrade into ammonia and enter the atmosphere. The study’s calculations show that agriculture is the main source of nitrogen pollution, accounting for 46% of the country’s total emissions. By comparison, road traffic and households are responsible for 6.1% each, the industrial sector for 1%. While efforts are being made to mitigate these emissions, policymakers are reluctant to reckon with the scale of the problem. The approach presented here is a radical one, but commensurate with the issue. This paper argues that the Dutch government must stimulate and subsidize livestock farmers, especially cattle farmers, to transition to sustainable vegetable farming. It first establishes the inadequacy of current mitigation measures, then discusses the various advantages of the results proposed, and finally addresses potential objections to the plan on economic grounds.

The rise of social media has been accompanied by a sharp increase in the prevalence of body image issues among women and girls. This correlation has received significant academic attention: Various empirical studies have been conducted into Facebook usage among adolescent girls (Tiggermann & Slater, 2013; Meier & Gray, 2014). These studies have consistently found that the visual and interactive aspects of the platform have the greatest influence on body image issues. Despite this, highly visual social media (HVSM) such as Instagram have yet to be robustly researched. This paper sets out to address this research gap. We investigated the effects of daily Instagram use on the prevalence of body image issues among adolescent girls. It was hypothesized that daily Instagram use would be associated with an increase in body image concerns and a decrease in self-esteem ratings.

The introduction of a research paper includes several key elements:

  • A hook to catch the reader’s interest
  • Relevant background on the topic
  • Details of your research problem

and your problem statement

  • A thesis statement or research question
  • Sometimes an overview of the paper

Don’t feel that you have to write the introduction first. The introduction is often one of the last parts of the research paper you’ll write, along with the conclusion.

This is because it can be easier to introduce your paper once you’ve already written the body ; you may not have the clearest idea of your arguments until you’ve written them, and things can change during the writing process .

The way you present your research problem in your introduction varies depending on the nature of your research paper . A research paper that presents a sustained argument will usually encapsulate this argument in a thesis statement .

A research paper designed to present the results of empirical research tends to present a research question that it seeks to answer. It may also include a hypothesis —a prediction that will be confirmed or disproved by your research.

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HOW TO WRITE A COMPLETE PROJECT FOR ANY PROJECT TOPICS

Many student have always find it difficult to write a complete project from any project topics they might have come across in the process of writing their final year project.In this post, i am going to show you the step by steps method  how to write a complete project for any project topics Final year students have been asking questions on how to start their academic project works. The following information will guide you:

WHY IS THE REPORT IMPORTANT PART OF ANY PR

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OJECT TOPICS?

If you wish to secure a good mark for your project, it is absolutely essential that you write a good report. It is the report which is marked, not the program or anything else you might have constructed during the project period. No matter how significant your achievements, if you do not write up your work, and write it up well, you will obtain a poor mark.

It is essential to understand that the report will be read and marked by a number of examiners (normally 2 – 4), only one of whom – your supervisor – will have any familiarity with the work which the report describes. Examiners are not mind-readers, and cannot give credit for work which you have done but not included in the report.

WHAT ARE THE EXAMINERS LOOKING FOR IN ANY PROJECT TOPICS?

Each project report is marked initially by two examiners, one of whom is the supervisor. Each examiner fills in an online mark form, giving marks for various aspects of the report and an overall mark. Studying the mark sheet will give you a good idea of what aspects of the report are important.

The notes to examiners which accompany the mark sheet use the terms “perfect”, “quite good”, “abysmal” and so on to describe the attributes of a particular numerical mark (e.g. 5 is “satisfactory”). There is a separate document which goes into great detail about what precisely “satisfactory” means in particular contexts, but I’m not sure that these definitions are widely used: most examiners believe that they have an accurate and objective understanding of what is “satisfactory”.

Note that supervisors might specify on the mark sheet that a particular aspect of the project is to be assessed – for example, a review of the project area – even if that area is not covered in the project report. Decisions on what is to be assessed are the supervisor’s responsibility, but you should be aware of the standard headings, think carefully about what you present (or do not present) under each, and discuss and agree it with your supervisor.

Remember that your report is an academic dissertation, not a popular article or commercial proposal. For example, rather than describing only a series of events and a final product, try to establish criteria, present arguments, derive principles, pose and answer questions, measure success, analyse alternatives and so on. Where a project has been undertaken with industrial support, the significance of that support for the project, and the relevance of the project to the supporting industry, should be discussed.

THE MECHANICS OF WRITING

The problem you have to solve is this: to transfer your own experiences of doing the project, and the knowledge you have gained, from your brain onto paper in a coherent, logical and correct form.

There are several ways of achieving this. Different authors have different techniques. My own method, which I think is quite common among technical authors, is to write as quickly as I can, without regard for coherency, structure or order, until I have written down (or rather, typed in) all the points I can think of. If my brain is running faster than my fingers and a thought pops into my head which belongs in another part of the document, I skip to the end of the page and insert a few words there to remind me to expand that point later, then resume where I was. The aim is to transfer as much relevant material from brain to paper as quickly as possible. This method has been called the “brain dump”. It is practised, I think, by some writers of fiction as well as by technical authors.

Project topics

At the rate of three pages of polished text every nine hours, a typical 60-page PR3 project report will take you about four weeks to complete, working full-time. You must allow time to prepare the appendices (e.g. program listings) and illustrations. Good-quality illustrations, in particular, take a long time to prepare. You should therefore allow at least six weeks to write the report.

If you kept a note-book during the project period, you will find the writing-up process much easier.

HOW TO WRITE WELL

Many students appear not to realize how difficult it is to write well. Any type of writing (except perhaps advertising copy) is difficult, but technical writing is particularly hard.

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You must strive first to be absolutely precise. When you write, it is not sufficient that you know what you mean; neither is it sufficient that your writing admits of the meaning which you intend: it must admit of no other meaning. What you write must not be capable of misinterpretation. Take exceptional care to choose the right word for the occasion. Do not, for example, write “optimum” if you mean “good”. “Approximate” means “close”, so “very approximate” means “very close” – which is not what many people seem to think it means.

Precision in writing is mainly a matter of taking sufficient care. Good writing is not only precise, however, it is vigorous, and that is much harder to achieve. It helps if you have read widely, especially novels. Here are some hints which might help you to write forcefully and vigorously.

Prefer short sentences to long sentences. Prefer short words to long words, provided that the short word has the meaning you need. Terseness is a great virtue in technical writing. (But don’t go too far; remember Horace’s observation: “Brevis esse laboro, obscurus fio”.) Avoid circumlocutions. “In almost all sectors of the computing marketplace” can be replaced in most contexts by “almost everywhere”.

The question of whether to use the passive voice in technical writing is a thorny one. Most older writers still write “a program was written …” rather than “I wrote a program …”. Many of your examiners might share this preference for, or prejudice in favour of, the passive voice, but this style is passing out of favour in all technical writing, and I advise you not to use it. Whatever you do, do not use the “royal we” (“we wrote a program” when you mean “I wrote a program”).

project topics

SPELLING AND GRAMMAR

You must take exceptional care to spell correctly. Poor spelling is a distraction to the proficient reader. In most cases there is very little excuse nowadays for spelling errors; there are many excellent spell-checker programs which make a good job of finding the errors for you, and excellent (paper) dictionaries which will tell you what the correct spelling is. Be especially careful with words whose common misspelling is a correct spelling of a different word, in particular the following pairs: lead/led; loose/lose; affect/effect. It is dangerous to allow the spell-checker to “correct” a misspelling by itself; many such hilarious “corrections” have been reported, for example recently in New Scientist.

Believe the spell-checker. Very many people, for example, on finding that the spell-checker questions “idiosyncracy” [sic], say to themselves “it must be missing from the dictionary file”, and leave the word alone. It is – for a good reason.

If you have a medical condition which makes it difficult for you to spell correctly, make sure that your supervisor knows about it, so that it can be taken into account by the examiners.

If poor spelling is a distraction which impedes understanding, poor grammar is more so. There are so many potential grammatical solecisms that it would be inappropriate to attempt to list them here. Read Fowler’s Modern English Usage for guidance. This book has been revised several times since its first publication in 1926. The most recent (1998) edition is probably the best to use, not because its recommendations are more permissive or up-to-date, but because it draws attention to traps which it would not have occurred to Fowler in 1926 that anyone could fall into. The original 1926 edition is famous for its vigorous, fiery language, which has been successively watered down in later revisions.

Take care with apostrophes. Historically, the apostrophe denoted the omission of one or more letters: don’t = do not, John’s book = John his book. For this reason, careful writers of British English restrict the possessive use of the apostrophe to animate possessors. You may write “John’s book” but not “the program’s function”, since (so the argument goes) one cannot write “the program his function”: you must write “the function of the program” instead. This rule is being steadily eroded under American influence, and will probably soon be obsolete.

I mention the “animate possessor” rule in order to illustrate and to explain a very common blunder. Never use an apostrophe with a possessive pronoun. “It’s” means “it is” (the letter that’s omitted is an “i”), not “it his”, which is plain silly. One never sees spurious apostrophes in his, hers, ours, yours, theirs; so why does one so often see “it’s” in place of “its”, which is the correct possessive pronoun?

The brain of the experienced reader, on seeing “it’s”, performs a lexical-level macro-expansion, replacing “it’s” by “it is”. This then fails to make syntactic sense in the context, necessitating a backtracking and re-parsing operation, and conscious expenditure of effort. It really does slow down, and consequently annoy, the reader. This crass and ignorant blunder probably does more to distract and to impede the reader of students’ reports than any other grammatical solecism.

Summary: “it’s” = “it is” (needed rarely, if at all, in formal writing). “Its” is the pronoun (This is my program. Its purpose is to … .) You almost certainly mean “its”.

Even if you yourself do not place a strong emphasis on good spelling and good grammar, most of your examiners do, some fanatically. Most examiners will be irritated by poor spelling and poor grammar. It is always worth doing whatever you can, short of bribery, to put your examiner in a good mood. Write well and spell well, for this reason if for no other!

When I prepared my own final-year project report, I wrote it with pen and ink and handed the manuscript to the departmental secretary who typed it for me on an IBM typewriter. Modern practice is different, and now you yourself are responsible for producing a computer-typeset report. This means that you must be familiar both with the formal requirements set out in the Students’ Handbook (restricting the number of pages, type size, width of margins, and so on) and with the rudiments of typography. You will not be penalized severely, if at all, if you violate typographical conventions, but good typography creates a subliminal impression akin to that of good proportion in a painting, and is desirable for that reason. Since it is a matter of simply learning and following the rules, you should try to do so. You should learn at least enough (for example) to know the difference between the hyphen, minus, en-dash and em-dash, and when to use each of them.

The best and most famous typographical reference book is Rules for compositors and readers at the University Press, Oxford by Horace Hart, known colloquially and universally as “Hart’s Rules”. It is a small book which you should probably read from cover to cover, but you may skip the section on Russian orthography if your report contains no Russian words. This book, like Fowler, has been revised continually since its first publication (in 1904, though it was in use within the O.U.P. since 1893). The latest edition is dated 1983. It is still in print, almost a century after its first publication, and at £8.79 (from the Internet Bookshop), well worth buying.

ILLUSTRATIONS

Your report should generally contain illustrations (figures or diagrams), but they must be relevant. Ask yourself if the illustration helps the reader to understand the text. If the text is readily comprehensible without the illustration, delete the illustration. If it is not, it is usually better to make the text clearer than to add a diagram.

All illustrations should be prepared by an appropriate program, such as pic, xfig or grap. They should not be hand-drawn. The only common exception to this rule is circuit diagrams: given the current state of the art in schematic-entry packages, a hand-drawn circuit diagram is usually preferable to a computer-drawn one.

If possible, include figures close to the text which refers to them, rather than all together in an appendix. Circuit diagrams are, again, a possible exception to this rule. It is normal to list tables and figures at the beginning of the report, after the table of contents.

Saepe stilum vertas.   – Horace

Top-level structure At the top level, a typical report is organized in the following way.

    Abstract. (This is a couple of paragraphs – no more – which summarizes the content of the report. It must be comprehensible to someone who has not read the rest of the report.)

    Introduction. (The scope of the project, setting the scene for the remainder of the report.)

    Previous work. (One or more review chapters, describing the research you did at the beginning of the project period.)

    Several chapters describing what you have done, focusing on the novel aspects of your own work.

    Further work. (A chapter describing possible ways in which your work could be continued or developed. Be imaginative but realistic.)

    Conclusions. (This is similar to the abstract. The difference is that you should assume here that the reader of the conclusions has read the rest of the report.)

    References and appendices.

References must be relevant. A typical PR3 project report might contain about one page of pertinent references, if the initial research period was well spent. Do not include references which you have not read, no matter how relevant you think they might be. If you refer to standard material which is covered by a large number of text-books, choose one or two really good ones and cite those, rather than a long list of mediocre texts.

There are many styles for citing references. Although strict standards (e.g. British Standards) for citing references exist, my advice is not to bother with them; instead, find a reputable journal in the library and copy its style. Alternatively, copy the example below. It’s important to be consistent, complete and unambiguous; beyond that, it doesn’t matter much what you do. Example citation style: Citations in text: Mander, in “Notes on a system specification method” [Mander 1983], gives the following …

… as described by Briggs [1983a] …

Thimbleby’s guidelines [Thimbleby 1983] suggest that …

Different methodologies have been examined [Tully 1983].

Several recent publications in this field [Wand 1980d, ACM 1971] have been very influential.

List of references at end of report: References example ACM 1971.Association for Computing Machinery, Second symposium on problems in the optimisation of data communication systems, ACM (1971). Briggs 1983a.      J.S. Briggs, “The design of AIR and its use in Ada separate compilation”, in SERC workshop on Ada software tools interfaces, ed. P.J. Wallis, University of Bath (1983).

If you adopt this style, when you cite a reference, you need not repeat the author’s name or authors’ names (“Jones and Sanderson [Jones and Sanderson 1999] have shown …”). Write instead: “Jones and Sanderson [1999] have shown …”, and list the reference as “Jones and Sanderson 1999”.

Alternatively, a system of numbered references, such as the default format produced by the Unix refer tool in conjunction with troff, is acceptable. I myself much prefer numbered citation styles, which I find much less obtrusive and easier on the eye; e.g. “Jones and Sanderson¹ have shown …” or “Jones and Sanderson [1] have shown …”. These forms, which are allowed by the regulations in the Handbook, seem to be the two dominant citation styles in academic journals.

You may wish to refer to electronic sources, particularly material found on the World-Wide Web. It is not enough to put “found on WWW” in place of a citation. The web page “Bibliographic Formats for Citing Electronic Information” gives advice on citing on-line sources.

If possible, avoid citing unpublished literature. It is however acceptable to cite university reports, such as this Department’s YCS series, and PhD theses (although getting hold of the latter can be almost impossible).

“References” are always cited in the text. Other works you’ve made use of but not cited should be listed in a section called “Bibliography”.

Note that “et al.” requires a period after the abbreviation “al.” (for “alia”). It means “and others”, and may be used only to refer to people, typically in lists of references. It is the animate form of “etc.”, which also requires a period.

LOWER-LEVEL STRUCTURE

Structure is a recursive concept. A well-structured report has its top-level sections well ordered, and it is easy to get this right; but each section must in itself be well ordered, and that is more difficult.

Most paper documents, and many on-line documents, are read linearly from beginning to end. This is certainly true of an examiner reading a project report. Consequently, the writer of a well-structured document avoids forward references wherever possible. Try to avoid writing “… as we shall see in chapter 10, …”, especially if the material in chapter 10 is essential to an understanding of the text at the point where the reference occurs. Occasionally such references are unavoidable, but more often than not they are a sign that the text needs to be re-ordered.

In the old days, re-ordering text entailed “cutting and pasting” with real scissors and real paste. Nowadays, the word-processor has made these operations so easy that there is no excuse for slovenly structure. Take your time, and keep rearranging words or phrases within sentences, sentences within paragraphs, paragraphs within sections and sections within the whole report until you have got it right. Aim for a logical progression from beginning to end, with each sentence building on the previous ones.

If the chapters are numbered 1, 2, 3, …, then the sections within (say) chapter 1 will be numbered 1.1, 1.2, … . It is permissible to sub-divide a section: the sub-sections within section 1.1 will be numbered 1.1.1, 1.1.2, … . Do not however nest sub-sections to more than four levels: sub-sub-section 1.2.3.4 is acceptable, but 1.2.3.4.5 is not. It is quite possible, with care, to write even a large and complex book without using more than three levels.

Footnotes are a nuisance to the reader. They interrupt the linear flow of text and necessitate a mental stack-pushing and stack-popping which demand conscious effort. There are rare occasions when footnotes are acceptable, but they are so rare that it is best to avoid them altogether. To remove a footnote, first try putting it in-line, surrounded by parentheses. It is likely that the poor structure which was disguised by the footnote apparatus will then become apparent, and can be improved by cutting and pasting.

THE ROLE OF ARTE-FACTS IN EVERY PROJECT TOPICS

Deep down, all students seem to believe that their project is “to write a program” (or, “to build a circuit”). They believe that they will be judged by how much their program does. They are amazed when their supervisor is unconcerned about the inclusion or non-inclusion of a listing in the report. They fear that they will be penalized if their program is small-scale or if they do not make grandiose claims for its power and functionality.

This leads to reports heavy with code and assertions about code, but light on reasoning. Students omit the reasoning because they are short of time and think the code more important, and thereby they lose credit they could have had. It leads also to the omission of testing. Hence there are assertions about the extent of implementation, but no evidence (in the form of records of testing) to back them up.

In summary, credit for the implementation is not the whole story; you should not feel under pressure to make claims that you cannot support. Your reports should clearly separate specification, design, implementation and testing. “The program does X” should more honestly be “I wanted the program to do X; I designed it to do nearly-X; I implemented it to do most-of-X; my testing shows that it did some-of-X (and here is the evidence of that)”. Taking this advice into account can much improve your mark.

YOU AND YOUR SUPERVISOR

Writing is a solitary pursuit. Whereas your supervisor will guide you through the early stages of your project work, you must write the report on your own. It is a University assessment, and the rules on plagiarism and collusion (do consult the Students’ Handbook!), and the conventions which restrict the amount of help a supervisor can give, apply. Nevertheless, most supervisors will be happy to read and to comment on drafts of sections of your project report before you hand it in, if you give them enough time to do so. It’s also a good idea to ask your supervisor to suggest some high-quality past projects in a similar field to yours, and to look them up in the departmental library . This will give you an idea of what is required.

Good writing is difficult, but it is worth taking the trouble to write well.

Leonard was trying to form his style on Ruskin: he understood him to be the greatest master of English prose. He read forward steadily, occasionally making a few notes.

“Let us consider a little each of these characters in succession, and first (for of the shafts enough has been said already), what is very peculiar to this church – its luminousness.” Was there anything to be learnt from this fine sentence? Could he adapt it to the needs of daily life? Could he introduce it, with modifications, when he next wrote a letter to his brother, the lay reader? For example: “Let us consider a little each of these characters in succession, and first (for of the absence of ventilation enough has been said already), what is very peculiar to this flat – its obscurity.” Something told him that the modifications would not do; and that something, had he known it, was the spirit of English Prose.

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how to write introduction in project work

Introduction to project work – what is a project?

Oxford University Press ELT

As part of the celebrations for 25 years of Project, now in it’s third edition, and in preparation for the Project Competition to design the best class poster, Tom Hutchinson explains what a project is and shows us a few examples .

Project work is not a new methodology. Its benefits have been widely recognized for many years in the teaching of subjects like Science, Geography, and History. Some teachers have also been doing project work in their language lessons for a long time, but for others it is a new way of working.

In the first of a series of five blog posts, I aim to provide a simple introduction to project work. In the following posts, I shall then go on to explain what benefits project work brings in relation to motivation, relevance, and educational values. I shall also deal with the main worries that teachers have about using project work in their classrooms. So to get started:

What is a project?

The best way to answer this question is to show some examples of projects (click on the images to see full size versions).

Design by Katorina Pokorná and Klára Kucejová

Projects allow students to use their imagination and the information they contain does not always have to be factual. In the above example of a project which required students to introduce themselves and their favourite things, the students pretend they are a horse.

Design by K Hajnovic

You can do projects on almost any topic. Factual or fantastic, they help to develop the full range of learners’ capabilities.

Designer unknown

Projects are often done in poster format, but students can also experiment with the form, like in the project above. You will probably also note that project work can produce errors! Project work encourages a focus on fluency – some errors of accuracy are bound to occur.

What are the common characteristics of these projects?

Each project is the result of a lot of hard work. The authors of the projects have found information about their topic, collected or drawn pictures, written down their ideas, and then put all the parts together to form a coherent presentation. Project work is not a soft option.

The projects are very creative in terms of both content and language. Each project is a unique piece of communication, created by the project writers themselves.

This element of creativity makes project work a very personal experience. The students are writing about aspects of their own lives, and so they invest a lot of themselves in their project.

Project work is a highly adaptable methodology. It can be used at every level from absolute beginner to advanced, and with all ages.

So, let us now return to the original question: What is a project? In fact, the key to understanding project work lies not in the question What? , but rather in the question Who? Who makes the decisions? A project is an extended piece of work on a particular topic where the content and the presentation are determined principally by the learners . The teacher or the textbook provides the topic, but as the examples in this section show, the project writers themselves decide what they write and how they present it.

This learner-centred characteristic of project work is vital, as we shall see when we consider the merits of project work in the second blog post.

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Projec wort is an essential part of the teaching.As a teacher. Now i will start to give project work to each student for developing his/her interest in subject. Through this they will become more active learner.

Project explained here is very generic in nature. It should rather include what is the purpose of doing a project, its significance, scope and outcomes of a successful project work.

i am to write a project on a hospitals preparedness to face emergency .how do i do it

[…] Introduction to project work – what is a project? by Tom […]

Is an extended piece of work on a particular topic where the content and the presentation are determined principally by the learners. The teacher or the textbook provides the topic, but as the examples in this section show, the project writers themselves decide what they write and how they present it.

that is a very correct definition of a project,excellent Jackson.

Nice explanation

I am writing a project on investigate antihypertensive in the hospital .pls help me out.i don’t know how to start.thanks

I think this project is very useful because it helps students to be creative

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How to write an introduction for a project

The introduction is the initial paragraph that begins the subsequent process of the project. Each project, each essay, or any article if it is written, receives an introductory paragraph that opens the way to successive paragraphs or topics of the project.

It is important to write an introductory paragraph because it is the first article that gives an idea about the content of the project.

What is a Project Work?

It is an activity that seeks to provide students with a learning environment and the incentive to metabolize their knowledge from various learning fields that are critically and creatively applied to current contexts in life.

It evolves under the direction and monitoring of an advisor or mentor.

You can see a video of the project report here.

Guidelines for preparing the Introduction for project work:

1. Be short and crisp:

Introduction is the first parameter for the upheavals of the next probable content that the project would contain. To write your introduction, one should be concise and direct. It is because the project summary reveals the context that you have added to the project. The first paragraph should depict everything like basic information, problems you encountered, suggested solutions to problems , etc.

2. Be clear in what you write:

The introduction is essential to read the simplest way, plus the most attractive way to write a paragraph. Since you teach yourself to be simple and easy to understand for the reader. If the first part is confusing, the curiosity of readers in continuing through the project would be diminished.

3. Give background information:

Writing the introduction means starting with the reason you were involved in carrying out the project, including the full context, i.e. the basis on which the concept behind the project emerged. Giving basic information is essential as it tells the long story of the project work.

4. Explain the reasons in the introduction:

In the introduction, you can explain why you have selected a particular theme for your project and what has prompted you to work on the project. In the introduction, you can explain why you selected a particular theme for your project and what inspired you to do the work of the project. Explain the reasons given in the introductory paragraph.

5. The problems should be highlighted:

Issues should be illustrated as the team’s work, which would help you clarify why you are using a particular subject to work on. Remember that all issues should be discussed way quickly and not in the essay type way. As in the following paragraphs, you will surely explain the issues you have highlighted in detail.

6. Explain why it is important to you:

It is reasonable to mention in the introductory paragraph why it is so important to you. The project’s importance to you and the audience must be clarified in a straightforward way to the audience and the avid readers, as they would like to know why the subject is important to you.

7. The outline or the blueprint of the content:

The introduction paragraph includes a blueprint or description of the content. This will let readers know what’s in the next project paras or modules. The outline should tell readers what the project is all about and whether the reader should go through the whole project.

8. It should outline the specific objectives of the project:

The introduction is not just the beginning; it is something that describes the objectives of the project. It refers to the goals you have set for the project’s achievement, and the execution should define all the objectives that you intend to achieve through this project work. The goals and objectives should be highlighted. Otherwise, the quality of the project may seem to be boring and less important.

9. Similar related work should be penned down:

There may also be various other related projects, but the two must be referred to in the project, particularly in the introductory portion of the project work. Instances should be used to refer to the context and topic on which the project is being carried out. It will continue to keep the project credible and credible for readers to get through.

10. No grammatical mistakes:

There should be no grammatical errors in the paragraph. Until completing the project introduction, review a lot of times. The more mistakes, the less appealing picture it would create in the readers’ minds. So, while writing the introduction, there should be no grammatical mistake. The beginning part of the project should be proper. Otherwise, the fewer interested readers would be moving through the entire project work.

11. Give instances or examples:

Giving examples of project work makes the project very interesting and worth reading. It also allows the project to appear different from many other projects since many do not have instances.

12. Write in paragraphs:

The introduction should be divided into paragraphs. Yeah, in a sense itself, the paras must be divided because the topic you will carry out the project must be the first paragraph of the presentation. The paragraphs should be as per the sequence. The first paragraph should depict the beginning, while the final paragraph should depict the end.

13. Do not go very long:

The introduction is not0 supposed to be very long. In the introduction, it’s good to write because an introduction should include all the basics in a very short way, like the problems, why you chose the topic, the explanations, the solutions to the problems, etc. Offer it all in a short way, not a kind of essay.

14. It should arouse interest in the reader:

The first Para should attract readers’ interest so that a user needs to go through the remainder of the project’s material. If the first part is boring and monotonous, the reader would immediately drop the notion of reading the whole project.

15. The parts should be well separated:

The introduction should be written in different paragraphs, but you should make sure that the content of the paragraphs is separated, and with that, the same content is not written in both sections. Both paras and material must be isolated from each other.

16. There must be no repetition:

It is not necessary to replicate the content of the introduction, but to vary from each of the paragraphs. Only the varied material will give rise to a greater curiosity in the readers, while similar content will only leave the reader tired and monotonous.

17. Do not disclose much about the project’s content:

The intro wouldn’t show anything about the project, and wouldn’t free any attention to the remaining project. Just be careful to write a gist so you might assume that the introduction has no clear details.

The introduction must be like making a mystery for the reader, on what might be next in the project. Only the anticipation will make the reader get addicted to the project and the curiosity can remain intact.

18. Be creative through pictures in the introduction:

You can write the same old introduction style as you can add images to the project, particularly in the first para. You will paste the pictures to the project when you write examples. The photos will bring color to the project, making it appealing and attractive enough to draw readers.

19. Make it colorful:

By writing with colored markers, you’ll make your web colorful. You can highlight some important words with different colors. This will make it striking. Although it’s a little kiddish, it’s something that’s going to please a lot of readers. It is something that holds the reader’s attention, and the reader can never leave the project with an incomplete reading.

22. Start with some quote:

You can start with a few quotes as well. Some author’s quote on your subject may be used to start the introduction. Quotes or other words, proverbs from the very beginning, tend to make the 0introduction very enticing and engaging.

21. If possible, write in pointers:

You can also write in the form of points. Pointers make the information easier to read and learn for readers including students. The entire introduction does not have to be written in pointers, but key points should be indicated in pointers.

You can type in the pointers, just like the references. In this way, more attention would be paid to the most important and the less important.

22. Introduction makes the first impression:

The introduction is the first paragraph written during the project and it does not contain errors because the first impression is the last impression. So, be sure to write an introduction without any flaws, otherwise it will have a bad effect on the minds of the readers, making the draft difficult to read.

23. Write short sentences:

Writing short sentences can make chapters easier for the reader to read. Don’t write long, complex sentences. You’re supposed to compose sentences that end in one breath. If you do, reading for the project would be simple and relaxed for the reader.

24. Use easy words and vocabulary:

Do not use technical jargon because it is not understandable to ordinary people. Making use of phrases that are readable and clear. The technical words used in the introduction may cause the reader to stop reading the project further.

25. Do not write anything off the track:

To turn off the track is to step away from the key problem or problem. Write only as per the topic so you can keep the reader on track. Writing something off the road would just make the readers step on from working on the project.

26. Be specific while writing the introduction:

Be specific in writing when the project work intro is written. The presentation must include all the appropriate details so that you don’t have to think again and memories again and again as someone goes into the project inside. Just by going through the introduction, one has to come to know about the important things you’re going to learn about inside the project.

The introduction basically behaves much like a checklist of what might happen next, but the only distinction is that the index is not written in depth, but the introduction is written briefly.

So, the above are some of the things that should be kept in mind when writing an introduction to project work. In all types of projects, the introduction is a must since it functions as a mirror of what is written in the next project.

The project must be carried out in a professional manner and the awards will be won only by professional work. Writing an outline is important as it helps to launch the work of the team. If you don’t write the introduction and start right away, it creates a bad image in the mind of the reader, which you certainly don’t like.

Groundhog’s Day

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How to Write a Research Introduction

Last Updated: June 23, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Megan Morgan, PhD . Megan Morgan is a Graduate Program Academic Advisor in the School of Public & International Affairs at the University of Georgia. She earned her PhD in English from the University of Georgia in 2015. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 2,641,466 times.

The introduction to a research paper can be the most challenging part of the paper to write. The length of the introduction will vary depending on the type of research paper you are writing. An introduction should announce your topic, provide context and a rationale for your work, before stating your research questions and hypothesis. Well-written introductions set the tone for the paper, catch the reader's interest, and communicate the hypothesis or thesis statement.

Introducing the Topic of the Paper

Step 1 Announce your research topic.

  • In scientific papers this is sometimes known as an "inverted triangle", where you start with the broadest material at the start, before zooming in on the specifics. [2] X Research source
  • The sentence "Throughout the 20th century, our views of life on other planets have drastically changed" introduces a topic, but does so in broad terms.
  • It provides the reader with an indication of the content of the essay and encourages them to read on.

Step 2 Consider referring to key words.

  • For example, if you were writing a paper about the behaviour of mice when exposed to a particular substance, you would include the word "mice", and the scientific name of the relevant compound in the first sentences.
  • If you were writing a history paper about the impact of the First World War on gender relations in Britain, you should mention those key words in your first few lines.

Step 3 Define any key terms or concepts.

  • This is especially important if you are attempting to develop a new conceptualization that uses language and terminology your readers may be unfamiliar with.

Step 4 Introduce the topic through an anecdote or quotation.

  • If you use an anecdote ensure that is short and highly relevant for your research. It has to function in the same way as an alternative opening, namely to announce the topic of your research paper to your reader.
  • For example, if you were writing a sociology paper about re-offending rates among young offenders, you could include a brief story of one person whose story reflects and introduces your topic.
  • This kind of approach is generally not appropriate for the introduction to a natural or physical sciences research paper where the writing conventions are different.

Establishing the Context for Your Paper

Step 1 Include a brief literature review.

  • It is important to be concise in the introduction, so provide an overview on recent developments in the primary research rather than a lengthy discussion.
  • You can follow the "inverted triangle" principle to focus in from the broader themes to those to which you are making a direct contribution with your paper.
  • A strong literature review presents important background information to your own research and indicates the importance of the field.

Step 2 Use the literature to focus in on your contribution.

  • By making clear reference to existing work you can demonstrate explicitly the specific contribution you are making to move the field forward.
  • You can identify a gap in the existing scholarship and explain how you are addressing it and moving understanding forward.

Step 3 Elaborate on the rationale of your paper.

  • For example, if you are writing a scientific paper you could stress the merits of the experimental approach or models you have used.
  • Stress what is novel in your research and the significance of your new approach, but don't give too much detail in the introduction.
  • A stated rationale could be something like: "the study evaluates the previously unknown anti-inflammatory effects of a topical compound in order to evaluate its potential clinical uses".

Specifying Your Research Questions and Hypothesis

Step 1 State your research questions.

  • The research question or questions generally come towards the end of the introduction, and should be concise and closely focused.
  • The research question might recall some of the key words established in the first few sentences and the title of your paper.
  • An example of a research question could be "what were the consequences of the North American Free Trade Agreement on the Mexican export economy?"
  • This could be honed further to be specific by referring to a particular element of the Free Trade Agreement and the impact on a particular industry in Mexico, such as clothing manufacture.
  • A good research question should shape a problem into a testable hypothesis.

Step 2 Indicate your hypothesis.

  • If possible try to avoid using the word "hypothesis" and rather make this implicit in your writing. This can make your writing appear less formulaic.
  • In a scientific paper, giving a clear one-sentence overview of your results and their relation to your hypothesis makes the information clear and accessible. [10] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
  • An example of a hypothesis could be "mice deprived of food for the duration of the study were expected to become more lethargic than those fed normally".

Step 3 Outline the structure of your paper.

  • This is not always necessary and you should pay attention to the writing conventions in your discipline.
  • In a natural sciences paper, for example, there is a fairly rigid structure which you will be following.
  • A humanities or social science paper will most likely present more opportunities to deviate in how you structure your paper.

Research Introduction Help

how to write introduction in project work

Community Q&A

Community Answer

  • Use your research papers' outline to help you decide what information to include when writing an introduction. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Consider drafting your introduction after you have already completed the rest of your research paper. Writing introductions last can help ensure that you don't leave out any major points. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

how to write introduction in project work

  • Avoid emotional or sensational introductions; these can create distrust in the reader. Thanks Helpful 50 Not Helpful 12
  • Generally avoid using personal pronouns in your introduction, such as "I," "me," "we," "us," "my," "mine," or "our." Thanks Helpful 31 Not Helpful 7
  • Don't overwhelm the reader with an over-abundance of information. Keep the introduction as concise as possible by saving specific details for the body of your paper. Thanks Helpful 24 Not Helpful 14

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Publish a Research Paper

  • ↑ https://library.sacredheart.edu/c.php?g=29803&p=185916
  • ↑ https://www.aresearchguide.com/inverted-pyramid-structure-in-writing.html
  • ↑ https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/introduction
  • ↑ https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/PlanResearchPaper.html
  • ↑ https://dept.writing.wisc.edu/wac/writing-an-introduction-for-a-scientific-paper/
  • ↑ https://writing.wisc.edu/handbook/assignments/planresearchpaper/
  • ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3178846/

About This Article

Megan Morgan, PhD

To introduce your research paper, use the first 1-2 sentences to describe your general topic, such as “women in World War I.” Include and define keywords, such as “gender relations,” to show your reader where you’re going. Mention previous research into the topic with a phrase like, “Others have studied…”, then transition into what your contribution will be and why it’s necessary. Finally, state the questions that your paper will address and propose your “answer” to them as your thesis statement. For more information from our English Ph.D. co-author about how to craft a strong hypothesis and thesis, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Project Introduction Letter

Project Introduction Letter

An employee, or a team of employees, writes a project introduction letter to the company to introduce the nature and significance of the project initiated by the company.

To acquaint the employer with the project’s essence alongside all the involving attributes and features, the employee should identify the aims and goals hoped for at the end of it. Summarizing the background can add to the value of your project. One can also mention the inspirations and motivations of choosing this project to establish trust and its significance.

Typically, a project introduction letter includes the project’s scope with valid arguments on what it holds for the company. Key elements of the project can be briefly explained. The employee should also add the activities that are to be carried out in the development of the project. All the technicalities and methodologies should be elaborated and specified.

The introduction of research partners and additional helpers must also be introduced in the letter, so the company is aware of the sources spent on the project. Adding the analogy of a similar case can help the employer/board better grasp why it is crucial for the business’s dynamic growth.

A sample map indicating the methodologies and approaches in the delivery of the project may give the board confidence on your expertise to carry the task with proficiency. You may also make an offer to your employer to track the plan to keep an eye on the implementations.

Feel free to access the following sample of the project introduction letter. You can change the information according to your needs.

Sample Letter

Dear Mike, (Name of the employer)

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter that my team and I are writing to you to introduce our project. I genuinely appreciate the opportunity to speak to you over this matter.

The project (name of the project) is inspired by the multifold events we face while dealing with our clients. This (the element that motivated you) inspired us to meditate over how we can grow the company’s business and take it to another height of success. Henceforth, we came up with the idea of this project.

By participating in this project, we hope to gain additional information and an in-depth understanding of how we can hunt for big clients that currently our company is in dire need of. We will also have a chance to grow through this adventure. (You may mention the key elements of your project here).

My team is all set to execute this complex project with our skills and the company’s resources by meeting the checkpoints after completing each milestone before moving to the next phase.

The time scale for this project is 1-month (the estimated time to finish the project), and the required budget is (the estimated amount). We are keen to deliver promising output with the company’s granted resources.

Should you have any query, please feel free to write us back.

how to write introduction in project work

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A good introduction is a must for any project. It helps readers understand the purpose of the work and enables them to read the rest of the work without any problems.

A practical introduction should orient the reader to your topic, time, and place. This can be done by including a solid quotation, an exciting story, or something unexpected to grab the reader’s attention.

What Is An Introduction To A Project?

An introduction to a project is a paragraph or two that explains what the project is about. It should contain essential information about the project, giving readers enough information to comprehend the goal and the scope that the undertaking will have. Project introductions can be used to:

  • Presentations

Introductions To Projects Are Commonplace In A Wide Range Of Industries, Including:

 Institutions of learning, specifically universities, and colleges, use project introductions when applying for grants or other resources.

 Researchers and scientists have introductions at the start of their research reports.

Engineering And Construction: 

Engineering and construction firms can use introductions to projects as part of their proposal when they compete for large projects or as an opening of technical papers.

Advertising And Marketing:

Advertising and marketing agencies will also send proposals and introductions to prospective clients describing their enthusiasm for envelope developing campaigns  or projects.

How To Write Your Project’s Introduction In Just 12 Steps

These are the steps you should follow to create a compelling introduction to your project:

Make Sure To Write The Project’s Introduction At The End Of The Article.

As a project’s introduction will cover the critical points of your study or proposal, You should draft it when your work is completed. So, the introduction is complete and contains pertinent details.

Determine The Goal Of The Project

Your introduction should highlight the reasons you finished the project. Based on your profession and the role you play, your project’s goal could include:

  • The issue you’re trying to solve
  • You’re applying for a grant to
  • The treatment or medication you’re studying
  • You’re trying to protect

What Challenges Did You Face?

If you encountered any issues during your project, include these during your opening. This can help readers understand what is involved in your work and its limitations. The types of issues that could be encountered are due to a lack of research published as well as a lack of participants in the study, or biases in self-reported findings.

Include Details About The Background

If you feel it is relevant, you may provide relevant details when you write your opening. This gives the reader more context and helps them understand the motivation behind your project. You can also utilise background information to illustrate why your readers should be concerned about your work and its outcomes.

If, for instance, you’re writing about the latest technological advancement, you could discuss the significant innovations that made the technology feasible or earlier versions of the device.

Provide An Overview Of Your Project

For your opening, you should define the critical elements of your proposal. Consider, for instance, the grant proposal that a college has submitted. The introduction could include the following statement “This proposal includes a discussion of qualifications, an estimate of associated costs, a list of objectives, and the proposed findings.”

Make A Thesis Statement If Necessary.

For research reports, essays, as well as other academic papers, The introduction typically includes the thesis statement. The thesis statement outlines the major points you plan to address in your essay or paper. For instance, here’s an example of a thesis statement in an academic research paper on educational methods: “In this report, we examine the success rates of visual, auditory, and verbal instruction in 300 middle school science students.”

Talk About How You Finished The Task.

The introduction of your paper should outline your method of use in completing your research, like designing your study. This detail is typically found in research papers or various technical documents. For instance, your introduction might be a description of an experiment with double blinding or a survey of 1,000 participants, or an analysis of literature published.

Make Sure You Are Clear And Concise.

The introduction you write should be concise and brief. Try to limit your introduction to one or two pages. The introduction should be used to draw the attention of readers and encourage readers to take an interest in your idea. Be careful not to repeat details from your project or give too many details in your introduction. Instead, make your introduction a few sentences with more general descriptions.

Think About Subheadings

If your opening paragraph is long, it is possible to use subheadings to organise your information. This will improve reading and comprehension of the material. Subheadings for your introduction could include:

  • Background information

Write For Your Audience

When writing a proposal introduction, Your sty and tone must be consistent with the rest of your work. It is also essential to consider your audience when deciding the language and technical terms you employ. You want your readers to be able to comprehend the language you write.

Check Your Introduction For Errors.

When you’ve finished your introduction, you’ll need to check your work to ensure that it’s correct in grammar and spelling. Think about asking a friend or colleague to read your introduction to ensure that the information is well-organised and easy to comprehend.

Create Your Introduction

In the final version of your introduction, make sure you incorporate the proper formatting and style to coordinate with your other work and any other specifications you need to meet. For example, if you are submitting your thesis for a master’s degree, the instructor or department usually determines the formatting and style you need to apply. Requests for proposals from a client may also specify how they’d like you to make your proposal.

What is an example of a introduction?

Try something like this inventive example of an introduction: I slammed into the water, losing all wind in the process. I briefly heard my sister shouting from the ship’s deck, but as soon as my ears submerged, the sound disappeared.

What are the 3 sentences for your introduction?

The opening statement, the supporting sentences, and the introductory theme sentence are the three components of an introduction.

How do you start a clear introduction?

Three elements should be included in an introduction: a hook to draw the reader in, background information on the subject so the reader can grasp it, and a thesis statement that succinctly and concisely states your major argument.

How do you start your first paragraph?

Strive to keep your attention on only one idea at a time. A claim or background information about the issue is frequently made at the beginning of a paragraph, followed by more details that support the claim.

Does a introduction have 5 sentences?

The average introduction should consist of three to five sentences. Also, you should strive for a word count of 50 to 80. Not everything needs to be said in the introduction.

What is a good project introduction?

You should be direct and succinct in your introduction. Strive to keep your introduction to one page or less. Use the introduction to capture readers’ interest and motivate them to participate in your project. Try to refrain from reiterating points from your project or giving the introduction an excessive amount of specifics.

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  1. ️ Introduction of project work. How Do You Write an Introduction to a

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  2. Tips On How To Prepare A Comprehensive Project Report

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  3. Project introduction

    how to write introduction in project work

  4. FREE 54+ Sample Introduction Letter Templates in MS Word

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  5. How to Write Introduction for Project Work? Ultimate Guide

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  6. PPT

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VIDEO

  1. How to Choose Your Next Writing Project [Productivity Tips]

  2. Research introduction structure

  3. how to write objective in project

  4. What is a project? A simple explanation

  5. How to write Introduction #upsc

  6. How to Write Introduction & Conclusion for Long Answers

COMMENTS

  1. Project Introductions: What They Are and How To Write Them

    Here are the steps you can follow to write an effective project introduction: 1. Write the project introduction last Because a project introduction discusses the main points from your research or proposal, you should write it once your project is complete. This way, the introduction contains accurate, relevant information.

  2. How to Write Introduction for Project Work: 26 Tips

    1. Write the project introduction last A project introduction should be written after your project is finished because it discusses the key ideas from your research or proposal. This way, the introduction contains accurate, relevant information. 2. Identify the purpose of the project Your introduction should discuss why you completed the project.

  3. How to Write Introduction for Project Work: 26 Tips

    So, in order to write the introduction for project work, follow the following points: Let's begin with What is a Project Work? It is an activity which aims to give students learning experience with the chance to synthesize their knowledge from different areas of learning, which is critically and creatively applied to current life situations.

  4. 10 Easy Steps: How to Write Introduction for Project in 2023

    Step 1: Understand the Purpose of the Introduction Before diving into writing the introduction for your project in 2023, it is crucial to understand its purpose. The introduction serves as a roadmap for your project, providing a brief overview of what readers can expect.

  5. How to Write an Introduction, With Examples

    An introduction for an essay or research paper is the first paragraph, which explains the topic and prepares the reader for the rest of the work. Because it's responsible for both the reader's first impression and setting the stage for the rest of the work, the introduction paragraph is arguably the most important paragraph in the work.

  6. How to Write Introduction for Project Work? Ultimate Guide

    Ultimate Guide How to Write Introduction for Project Work? Ultimate Guide Rajveer March 12, 2023 10 mins read A good project report starts with a perfect introduction. Project introduction is an important element of project work. It gives the readers an idea of what they are about to read throughout the project.

  7. How to Write a Project Brief: Template & Examples

    How to Write a Simple Project Brief: Template & Examples Lynn Winter November 2, 2022 How to Write a Project Brief: Template & Examples | TeamGantt Watch on Your sales team just sold a new project and handed off all the information they have to you on the shared drive.

  8. How to write an introduction for a project

    1. Be short and crisp: Introduction is the first parameter for the upheavals of the next probable content that the project would contain. To write your introduction, one should be concise and direct. It is because the project summary reveals the context that you have added to the project.

  9. How to Write an Essay Introduction

    Table of contents Step 1: Hook your reader Step 2: Give background information Step 3: Present your thesis statement Step 4: Map your essay's structure Step 5: Check and revise More examples of essay introductions Other interesting articles Frequently asked questions about the essay introduction Step 1: Hook your reader

  10. Write a Project Description with Examples

    Project Title: Aim for a short, unambiguous, and memorable title. Overview: This is a high-level summary (no more than one or two paragraphs). Project Justification: Explain the problem or opportunity and why the project is necessary. Objectives: Set specific and measurable project goals. Phases of Work: Break down the project into phases that describe the desired outcome for each.

  11. Introductions

    1. The placeholder introduction. When you don't have much to say on a given topic, it is easy to create this kind of introduction. Essentially, this kind of weaker introduction contains several sentences that are vague and don't really say much. They exist just to take up the "introduction space" in your paper.

  12. How to Write an Introduction: A Simplified Guide

    Here's how to write an introduction in three simple steps. To write an introduction, be mindful of what it's supposed to achieve. The main goals here are to draw in your reader — a relative stranger, most of the time — and concisely let her know what the article is about. Generally, that consists of three key components:

  13. Writing a Research Paper Introduction

    Step 1: Introduce your topic The first job of the introduction is to tell the reader what your topic is and why it's interesting or important. This is generally accomplished with a strong opening hook. The hook is a striking opening sentence that clearly conveys the relevance of your topic.

  14. How To Write a Project Proposal (With Tips and Example)

    Write an introductory section, called the executive summary, to summarize your project. Just like the introduction of an essay, this section should aim to catch your recipient's attention and encourage them to read on. Your executive summary should include details about the following: The problem your project solves

  15. How To Write an Introduction in 4 Easy Steps: A Complete Guide

    1. Get the reader's attention No matter what you're writing, it's important to grab the reader's attention to ensure they continue reading. Start by creating a compelling hook for the beginning of your introduction. This step will look different depending on what you're writing and the style of writing you're going for.

  16. How to Do a Project: 10 Steps (with Pictures)

    3. Plot out your research. Plan out the process of your research by using the gap filling brainstorming technique. To do this, identify where you are starting from in terms of your knowledge and resources (i.e. Point A), and identify where you want to go with your project (Point B). Make a list of all of the things missing between Point A and ...

  17. How to Write a Complete Project for Any Project Topics

    At the rate of three pages of polished text every nine hours, a typical 60-page PR3 project report will take you about four weeks to complete, working full-time. You must allow time to prepare the appendices (e.g. program listings) and illustrations. Good-quality illustrations, in particular, take a long time to prepare.

  18. Introduction to project work

    A project is an extended piece of work on a particular topic where the content and the presentation are determined principally by the learners. The teacher or the textbook provides the topic, but as the examples in this section show, the project writers themselves decide what they write and how they present it.

  19. How to write an introduction for a project

    1. Be short and crisp: Introduction is the first parameter for the upheavals of the next probable content that the project would contain. To write your introduction, one should be concise and direct. It is because the project summary reveals the context that you have added to the project.

  20. How to Write a Research Introduction: 10 Steps (with Pictures)

    Download Article. 1. Announce your research topic. You can start your introduction with a few sentences which announce the topic of your paper and give an indication of the kind of research questions you will be asking. This is a good way to introduce your readers to your topic and pique their interest.

  21. Project Introduction Letter Template

    Sample Letter. Dear Mike, (Name of the employer) Thank you for taking the time to read this letter that my team and I are writing to you to introduce our project. I genuinely appreciate the opportunity to speak to you over this matter. The project (name of the project) is inspired by the multifold events we face while dealing with our clients.

  22. How To Introduce Yourself at Work (With Tips and Examples)

    1. Ask questions Asking your new coworkers questions after introductions can help create a two-way conversation and a connection with them, which can lead to positive relationships in the future. Since you are communicating with colleagues for the first time, asking work-related questions is typically more appropriate.

  23. How To Write An Introduction For A Project Example

    How To Write Your Project's Introduction In Just 12 Steps These are the steps you should follow to create a compelling introduction to your project: Make Sure To Write The Project's Introduction At The End Of The Article.

  24. How to write introduction in project?

    Hey students how are you ? So I have introduced in this video is how should we write a introduction in our project. I have also included some tip...