Investigation introductions

Clarities,

a good introduction to an investigation orientates the marker and shows off what you know in a concise, academic way.

Planning:

• why you chose the theory area and data - what makes this an interesting and useful investigation? (remember to be academic not rampantly enthusiastic)
• a summary of what you know about that theory area including a range of theories and how they connect/contrast
• what you have focussed in on from all of those and why
• therefore what your hypothesis is
• how you will test it (which features of language will you quantify/explore?) and why

There is a clear flow here that is essential for getting good marks in AO1 (the structure and flow of your investigation and the clarity and precision). Really think about the reader's needs - what do I need to know so I can understand your thinking and good decisions?

You can't write the draft of your introduction that I will mark until after you have written the rest as it needs to relate to what you have eventually focussed on (and that sometimes changes at the analysis stage) but it is important to do a draft at this stage to ensure you have carefully thought through what you are doing.