Writing an Introduction to the Introduction
http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=R78M0M1N4K53JP98
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  peer-reviewed

Hartley, James
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
2009

Abstract:

Many authors give advice to students about how to write the Introduction section of their articles. Some give examples of different ways of doing this in general, and a few discuss the opening sentence in particular. In this article, 13 different types of opening sentences are outlined, and their usage contrasted in British and American journals in the Sciences and Social Sciences. Implications for teaching are considered.