Framing the Introduction
These questions and diagrams accompany the Bentz et al., 2020 PNAS paper with highlighting showing the framing of the introduction and also abstract.
What is the gap in science or the problem in the world that the study and data address?
Think about assumptions, blind spots/omissions, false dichotomies, simplifications or ways new methods can address old questions/problems – this is the innovation of your work
What is the gap in the specific field of science? (There may be more than 1 so go through step 2 and/or 3 more than 1 with 1 paragraph for each)
What is the gap in the subfield or the study system?
What is your paradigm – your method or study system?
What is your experimental design? Be sure to emphasize how this approach applies new techniques or addresses past oversights you identified
What is the significance – the way that the data you present address each framing of the gap?
** if the significance doesn’t address the gap framed at every step of refinement then you either need to re-work the frame or the statement of significance.
Layering the argument: Add critical background to clarify why each gap is important and what the payoff will be for addressing these gaps.
What is your hook – the broad gap/problem with a new twist of new information, new perspective, or new potential for resolution?
What critical background explains the gap in the field of science? What would other biologists/neuroscientist need to understand to see the importance of this gap?
Are there assumptions, simplifications, or omissions in the past work that you address?
Are there alternative hypotheses that you distinguished among
What deeper background explains the gap in the subfield or system? What would your colleagues in behavioral ecology/endocrinology/behavioral neuroscience need to know to understand the importance of this gap?
There may be multiple gaps at this level and often each gap will require a separate paragraph
Add prior work from your research here or colleagues
What study system or specific method that you used address the gaps you highlighted? Elaborate on your experimental design and the power of your approach
How do the data you collected address the gap you described at the broadest level? Clearly summarize the rationale for doing this work – collecting these specific data.