Homework Responses Wk 5

Searching for academic research can be a challenge. Choosing a research paper based on the title is synonymous to judging a book by its cover. Luckily, the abstract helps to solve that problem. The abstract is the most read part of a research paper and is frequently used to determine if the research fits the criteria of the reader. It should be concise and contain a few key pieces of information.

A primary purpose of the abstract is to clearly state the purpose of the research. Usually this takes the form of describing a problem and stating how the research aims to provide insight. The author might also include the significance of the study and who would benefit from the lessons learned. Additionally, it should summarize the methodologies used to conduct the research. Finally, if the abstract is informative in nature, it will also include a synopsis of the findings and conclusions of the author.

It is also important to know that the abstract is used for indexing purposes. Essentially, the online catalogs allow the user to search by key word. This function searches the titles and abstracts of articles to help a user identify the most relevant material.

The introduction expands on the information provided in the abstract. It will generally discuss other scholarly works relevant to the research, as well as explaining how the proposed research aims to further clarify or correct the existing articles. The introduction is really the beginning of the paper. As such, it bears the responsibility of capturing the reader’s attention.

A common tool for enticing a reader is known as the narrative hook. A narrative hook is statement that generates thought with the reader and often contains a charging element that allows the reader to relate, or buy in, to the research. Current events, statistics, movie references, and other easily relatable topics are often the center of a narrative hook. Since narrative hooks are designed to generate emotion in the reader, consideration should be given to any bias it could generate. It is for this reason that questions should be avoided as a part of the narrative hook.

References:

American Military University. (n.d.). SSGS300 - Week 4: Abstract & Introduction Page. https://myclassroom.apus.edu/d2l/le/enhancedSequenceViewer/22284?url=https%3A%2F%2Ff54cbe36-23a9-4505-85fe-e251f80ec34d.sequences.api.brightspace.com%2F22284%2Factivity%2F1695938%3FfilterOnDatesAndDepth%3D1

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