The CARS Model: Rethinking Your Introduction

While it would be nice to think that everyone who's going to read your research paper will just take your word for it that the work you're doing is important, sadly that isn't the case. Whether you're writing for a class, a graduate committee, or publication, part of your task is going to be convincing those readers that your research matters. There are lots of little details and confusing requirements that you might need to include in an introduction, but you should always remember that is all boils down to that one idea: you need to give the reader all the information they need to be convinced that your research is important.

One of the most effective ways of thinking about a research paper introduction is the Creating a Research Space (CARS) model, which was created by linguist John Swales as a way to help researchers write effective introductions. The model lays out a simple plan with three steps (sometimes called "moves") that, when followed correctly, guarantee a concise, informative beginning to your paper.

Start by simply explaining the general background necessary to understand your work, that is, explain what territory you're going to be working in. Give the reader a brief history of your topic, and briefly explain how your topic fits within the larger framework of your field. It's likely that your readers will have some level of familiarity with your topic, so don't go overboard and try to explain too much. Think of this as a way to remind your reader about what is going on in your field and to get them primed to tackle the rest of your paper.

Next, you need to define a niche for yourself within your topic ( a niche is a small, specialized role). The world of research is big and complex-now's the time to tell the reader how you fit into that framework. What exactly your niche is will depend on the project, but there are a number of general ways you can attack the issue. You can point out a gap in the current research or raise a new question that no one has addressed yet. You can also point out contradictions and unresolved issues in the current research or demonstrate that your work is the next logical step in the research process.

The last step in the CARS model is to tell the reader how you're going to fill the niche you identified in Step #2. Basically, you need to outline how exactly your work will address the opening in the research that you outlined in the earlier sections of your introduction. Depending on the structure of your paper you might provide an outline of how your paper will proceed from that point, or you might simply state your research question and give a brief synopsis of your research plan. Remember, the key here is that you want to reader to clearly see that your research is going to meet a specific need.

One of the problems students frequently have with introductions is that there's no requirement for how they should be organized. Thus, one of the benefits of using the CARS model is that it provides a clear outline for any introduction: you start with Step #1, then move through Steps #2 and #3. Keep in mind, though, that your paper doesn't have to rigidly follow this model. You may need to add sections that meet the specific needs of your paper or spend more time on one step in the model than the others.

For many types of papers the introduction is only a short section, and the bulk of the work introducing the reader to a topic is done in a literature review. If that's the case, the steps from the CARS model can be used to build a good literature review too. Start with a general survey of the research on your topic, then establish a niche by pointing out holes or contradictions in the research, then finish by citing research that is relevant to your research design, theoretical framework, or specific research question.

Another benefit of using the CARS model for introductions is that it helps you, as the author, look at your paper through the eyes of your reader. It's been said here several times already, but it's worth repeating: the job of the introduction is to catch the reader's attention and give him or her the information they need to appreciate your work. If it doesn't accomplish that goal, then it's failed. So, when you're editing your introduction, try to look at it through your reader's eyes. What does he or she need to know? What questions will they have about your work? Particularly when you're involved in long projects it's easy to get caught up in the minutia of your work and assume that others will see the big picture. But remember, your reader doesn't have the level of familiarity with your topic that you do, so they need to be told some of the things that you take for granted.