The introduction is an extended version of the “pitch” you wrote in October. Beyond that, the introduction should summarize your engagement with the existing literature and frameworks, your methodology and source base, and your research question(S).
Introductions, as the word suggests, introduce your reader to your topic, your question, and your way of looking at the problem. They should not be a lengthy pre–history of the topic, nor should they be full of broad statements (the Russian peasantry was always subjugated! The Russian people have always been traditional!). Rather, they should briefly set the scene for your discussion, or even briefly state the existing debate (in broad terms) on your topic. If you have a “soft” opening paragraph that relates a story or anecdote, make sure that the story or anecdote
you chose actually connects to the question you are going to pose. Remember, the point is to show the reader, in a manner as efficient as possible, what your research project is going to be about and why it matters. After the opening paragraph, briefly introduce the state of the field. What are the main explanations for the problem/conflict you are studying? Then, in the final paragraph, introduce
your main research question and sub–questions. You may choose to do this in a more openended way, the way someone working in the humanities tradition would, or in a way more common in Political Science, with clear hypotheses. Finally, explain how you will answer the
question/test the hypotheses.
State of the Field 2–3 pages
In this section, you will explain the debate on the topic and related issues as it exists today. The questions that you will want to address here include: What are the main points of agreement and disagreement? What are the methodologies and sources that have led people to particular conclusions?
What frameworks and theories are other scholars employing, and how does the choice of framework affect the answer to the research question? How and why has the debate changed over time? A good “state of the field” section will not simply summarize the existing literature, but explain why scholars have asked certain questions, reached particular conclusions, and so on. You don’t have to cover every single piece written on the topic: rather, give the reader an analysis of how
the debate has evolved. Start with the relevant frameworks (if applicable) and move down to the more specific literature. In the final paragraph of the section, explain how you will intervene
