General Advice On Creating A Geography Dissertation Introduction
Many students tackle the geography dissertation introduction last, well after they have written all of the other sections and have had more time to think about how they want to introduce their topic. This is a great strategy employed by thousands of students across a number of disciplines. The following is some really good advice on how to create a dissertation introduction in the field of geography.
- The Introductory Paragraph
- Stating the Research Problem
- The Significance of the Study
- Primary Research Questions
- Research Methods/Design
- Limitations of the Study
- Stating the Hypothesis
Your introductory paragraph should be about four or five sentences long, immediately bringing up the general field of interest. Don’t keep the reader guessing what the specific subject of your geography dissertation will be. Complete the introductory paragraph with a clear single statement of what you aimt to accomplish.
After providing the background information in the introduction paragraph, you should get into explaining the precise game that exists in the academic knowledge of your geography topic. This gap should be the foundation and purpose for your work, so be sure to be clear and direct.
Following the research problem and purpose you should state the important reason behind filling the knowledge gap within your topic. Describe what your contribution will mean to the field and how others will be able to use this information to further develop this branch of study.
The next section of your introduction should include at least one or several research questions you expect to answer in your study. Generally, you want to focus your study to just a few questions, but what’s important is that you bring up each one specifically in this section.
Next, you should provide a summary of your research methods or research design. This won’t be as detailed as it should appear in its own dedicated section. You can usually summarize this in two or three sentences, providing just enough information outlining the subjects studied, how you went about collecting the data, and the process you followed.
There will always be limitations to a dissertation research project. Whatever these might be, state them in a few lines to clearly communicate that you have thought about the limitations and are aware that your work may not be a comprehensive study.
Finally, conclude your introduction with a clear and direct hypothesis or thesis statement, describing exactly what it is you are attempting to prove or make the case for in your dissertation. Keep this statement uncomplicated, so that there is no doubt placed in the reader’s mind.
