英文论文的 Introduction 部分怎么写？流程，要点，误

2019-04-12 本文已影响249人中科院张老师

大家好，我是「炬萌新」的科研顾问「中科院张老师」；Introduction 引言部分是整篇学术文章中最难的一个部分，我们要通过它来有效地引导读者并提出我们文章所研究问题。所以这篇文章我从「Introduction 的重要性、基本内容结构、我国学者常见写作误区和句型干货分享」这四个方面来透彻聊聊 Introduction 引言部分地写作。再次感谢我们工作室外籍老师整理的专业句型！

「Introduction」的重要性：

Why an Introduction Is Needed?

Introduction 引言部分通过呈现研究课题所折射的研究理论来说服目标读者。引言部分不同于摘要「Abstract」,字数上没有严格的局限性，但是内容方面要求在对应的选题上更加精准和明确 ( be concise and to the point )。引言通常需要承接摘要部分提出的几个学术方向展开话题，从比较宽泛的学术背景铺垫逐渐过渡到论文的研究课题 ( narrow down to the research problem )。

引言部分需要解答两个核心问题：

研究空白是什么？为什么我们要填补这个研究空白？(更加接地气地表达就是，你要说服读者这个研究空白很重要值得我们费时费力去探究)
你的研究问题是什么？为什么你的研究问题可以填补这个研究空白？(更加接地气地表达就是，你要说服读者相信你的研究的确填补了这个领域的空白)

于是乎，整个引言部分的逻辑架构就呼之欲出了！即我们的引言部分要清晰地呈现这样一个思路：

「Introduction」的基本构成：

Major Components of an Introduction

学术论文的引言部分主要包含以下几个方面的内容，我们一一展开详解:

1. 研究背景和重要性「Background And Importance」

Mention of previous work on the subject
A statement of the importance of the subject

引言部分的第一段需要给出研究领域的大背景及其重要性所在。这个大背景勾勒出该领域科研成果从古至今的一个走向或者趋势 ( what is known )，为接下来本论文课题的发展生长提供温床。这部分内容的展开一定要引用该领域前人、大牛的经典文献或者奠基性著作，体现你对于该学科的一个总体把握是全面且客观的。

那如何从这个大背景引入到论文的课题呢？当我们从该学术领域的大趋势逐渐缩小范围时，只需把其中关联该论文课题的相关信息 (keep stick to relevant information only) 拎出来说，这样才能保证最后能自然过渡到文章将要探讨的科研课题。

2. 引出该领域科研空白「What Is Unknown」

Description of knowledge gap

摆出该研究领域的一个概况之后，就要顺理成章地指出哪些是我们还未涉及的领域 (或是没有研究透彻的问题)。当然这样的问题有千千万万，此处不能全部罗列，必要要对应着你的论文课题来谈。直白地说，就是你论文课题研究的什么，此处就针对性地写"这个课题尚未被太多科研者涉足"云云。

3. 研点题—指出本文的研究课题「Topic of Research Paper」

Announce the research topic/Question being addressed in research paper
How it will fill the missing brick in the wall of research already done

既然研究空白已近在眼前，那么对应的研究课题便要紧随其后。接下来就是你理直气壮陈述该论文主题的时刻，此时需要注意与研究空白的呼应，即在摆出课题是什么的基础之上更近一层，简要分析这个课题是如何填补了科研空白的。

例如: 本文采用的模型预测精度更高？或是考虑了某个影响因子(前人研究没有考虑但是该因子其实很重要)的作用？亦或是在不同的实验条件、实验地点得出了和其他科研论文不一样的结论？

千万不要觉得这个关系显而易见嘛，为什么还要多写一句废话？殊不知这种"进一步"的关联性分析往往是中国学生最喜欢忽略的，很多内容大家心里已经想到，唯独没有用英文去表述出来。

4. 概述文章的核心方法论和主要发现「Highlight The Approach And Principal Findings」

Description of your approach and why you chose it (if needed)
Brief summary of your major findings

这部分的内容并不是每一个学科领域或者所有期刊都有要求，但如果你的文章依照学科惯例要对这两方面提及的话，则可在 Introduction 的中简洁地做出概述。需要注意一定要提出主要的研究手段(是什么以及为什么选择它)和研究发现，不要过分展开更不需谈及细节，精炼地点到为止即可。

5. 提出猜想和研究目的「Hypothesis And Objectives」

最后在引言的结尾提出对之前科研问题的猜想以及你通过这项科研课题的研究想要达到的研究目的「Objectives」。研究目的可以依照文章的具体内容板块拆分成几个小点罗列出来。这种方式有点类似"节目预告"，给读者阅读后面的内容引路，一方面能够让读者明白后面内容的大致轮廓( Organization of this paper )，另一方面也能抓住读者的注意力继续循着你提供的线索和方向探究下去。

「Introduction」写作常见误区：

Common Mistakes in Writing an Introduction

误区1：一个观点或者论据引用一大串文献——Give too many citations for one point

例如 "Many studies have found a significant association between X and Y [4-15]". 这句话引用文献 [4-15] 实在是太多了，堆砌在一个观点的后面是审稿人很反感的。尽量节选重要的经典的或者最近的文献来引用。如果说这些文献实在是都很值得引用，那么不妨尝试改用下面的句式来展现: "A significant association has been found between X and Y in men [4-7], women [8-11], and children [12-15]."

误区2 ：指出研究课题但不具体说明到底有何研究价值——Explain why your research topic is worth of study

例如我在修改学生论文时最常遇到的表达就是: "… is important…"，但是没有给出细节描述重要性体现在哪些方面。所以如果你想说 "The development of new materials is important for the automotive industry"，则应该要这样去表述"The development of new materials is necessary for the automotive industry to produce stronger, lighter vehicles, which will improve safety and fuel economy."(推荐表达，加粗部分具体指明在哪几个点体现新材料的重要性)

误区3 ：细节过多导致句子不够精炼——Bury your readers in detail

例如引言部分不要摆太多的细节和具体数据，尤其是关于论文研究结果的具体数据。关于研究方法、研究结果只需要概述性地在引言部分点到为止即可，接下来的章节会给它们更多的空间去展开更具体的内容。如果说引言部分所有论据和陈述都罗列太多细节性的内容，会让句子显得非常臃肿，导致干扰信息过多让读者抓不住重点。

例如: "a previous study conducted in 2014 found that 10% fewer individuals were diagnosed with age-related diseases, such as arthritis, in areas with such healthcare policies in place."

推荐修改如下更精炼简洁: "a previous study found that fewer individuals were diagnosed with age-related diseases in areas with such healthcare policies."

「Introduction」海量句型推荐：

1. General Introduction

Recent theoretical developments have revealed that……
A common strategy used to study……is……
These approaches have been influential in field……because of……
Most of the theories of……are however focused on explaining……
The field has gradually broadened as……
……has been widely adopted in the field of……
One of the major topics to be investigated in……is……
……is widely considered at the time of……
……phenomenon has been widely observed through……

2. Problem Definition

There is a further problem with……
One primary problem with……is that……
The foremost problems are the facts that……
A challenging problem which arises in this domain is……
A well-known problem with……is that it does not take into account the……
This appears as a more straightforward problem compared to the……
……turns out to be even more challenging because……
This poses some problems when carrying out the……
Unfortunately, this approach results in problems related to……
These constraints make the problem difficult to……
Most of the research in……field is aimed at solving……

3. Gaps in Literature

There has been less previous evidence for
Other studies have failed to……
To our knowledge, few studies have yielded
Limited open literature to date has reported
Only a few studies have shown that……
However,……has rarely been examined directly.
Moreover, few studies have focused on……

4. Problem Solution

There are many alternative methods are available for solving……
A solution to this problem is proposed in……
One approach to solve this problem involves the use of……
……can be applied to overcome……
A number of works have shown that this problem can be solved by using……
A large number of alternative approaches have been developed to……
Potential techniques to solve contemporary problems in……are……
The standard solution to the problem is based on……
Broadly speaking, the problem can be addressed by……
Recently, a more general solution has been developed for……

5. Study Motivation

It is of interest to know whether……still……
It would be of special interest to……
We therefore analyzed……and investigated whether……
For this study, it was of importance to investigate……
We investigated whether……can be partly explained by……
To examine the impact of……we……
One common approach to testify……is to……
A new approach is therefore needed for……

6. Aims & Objectives

The aim is to develop more sophisticated methods for……
For our first goal, we focus on two problems……
The aim here is to investigate……
This project aims to develop an overarching framework to……
The aim of the experiment is to compare……
The overall goal of this research was to pursue……
One of the major aims of this work was to create……
The main objective is to investigate methods for improving……
The objectives can be restated in the light of……
The objective is to demonstrate the feasibility of……

7. Significance & Advantages

This thesis documents several key contributions of……
The first main contribution proposed in this field is……
The contributions of this work are presented as follows:……
The key contribution of this work is the solution it provides……
It has significant benefits in terms of……
These point out the advantages and practicability of……
One of the key benefits of the algorithm is……
The main advantage compared to previous ones is……
One practical advantage of the method is that it can be used in……
In comparison with other techniques, this method has the advantage of……
The benefit of using the……is expected to……

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原创作者:「中科院张老师」，「炬萌新」总参谋长，中科院研究员，博士生导师。从事科学研究和研究生的指导培养工作中超过20余年。主持和参与完成973国家重点基础研究发展计划、国家重大科学仪器设备开发专项、国家自然科学基金共10余项，发表研究论文70余篇。

「炬萌新」 : 整理普及科研和留学相关的原创干货和基础知识