Three Introductions

Below, are three versions of introductions for the same assignment. None of them are perfect. Have a look at the three, and describe what you consider to be the specific merits of each one. Is there one introduction that you think is best? Bearing in mind the advice in Chapter 7 that none of its recommendations should be followed too slavishly, here are some key questions to help you to assess the examples:

  • Does the introduction tell you what the essay is about?
  • Does it signpost the arguments and the order in which they will appear?
  • For a full introduction, does it signal the major debates behind the question?
  • Does it define terms where necessary?
  • If appropriate, does it define a position?
  • Does it indicate the conclusion?

Read each introduction, clicking to reveal the tutor’s comments.

Essay question: Outline how and why audiences have been researched in terms of ‘effects’ and ‘uses’.

1. When investigating the complex links between the media and the audience, it can be said that their relationship is ‘mutually constitutive’ (Evans, 2005, p. 2). As a result of this relationship, audiences can be researched using many different methods and in many different contexts. This essay will consider how and why the audience is researched in terms of ‘effects’ and ‘uses’, in particular. Research that addresses the audience in terms of ‘effects’ usually looks at the causal effect that the media have on their audience in terms of behaviour and attitude. When looking at the audience in terms of ‘uses’, a different perspective is used and the research concentrates on how the audience uses the media and also how the audience can affect their production. To consider media research, its uses by and effects on the audience, this essay will also look at how the research is done. This is significant as it allows the results and the relationship between media and audiences to be properly understood.

This is quite good. It introduces the important concept of ‘mutual constitution’, which thereby frames the position of the essay. It deals with the subject of the essay. It defines the key term, ‘mutually constitutive’ and indicates broadly what ‘effects’ and ‘uses’ research is about, although the definitions could be sharper. It signals the intention to deal with research methods as well as the concepts. It signposts a clear ‘order of service’, so the reader knows what is coming next.

However, it isn’t perfect. The conclusion is not signposted. It is also a bit wordy, e.g. ‘When looking at the audience in terms of “uses”, a different perspective is used’ could be: ‘In terms of “uses” ...’

A short note about definitions in introductions: Definitions in introductions can often be clumsy and can easily veer into discussion. Because of this, some tutors argue that definitions should not be included in introductions, while others welcome concise definitions of key concepts as, when done well, they can clarify the focus of the essay or neatly indicate the author’s position. As a general guideline, if the definition is complex or veers into discussion, it is probably best to leave it to the main body. If the definition quickly clarifies the focus of the essay, sets necessary parameters or concisely identifies the author’s position (perhaps by affiliating with a particular theorist), it could be helpfully included in the introduction. There is no hard and fast rule about this, however, so the best course of action could be to ask your tutor what she or he prefers.

2. There are many ways of examining the relationship between media and audiences. This essay will look at how and why the audience is researched in terms of ‘effects’ and ‘uses’, in particular. ‘Effects’ means the way in which the media affect their audience; ‘use’ means the way in which the audience use the media they have.

Introduction 2 would have merit as a short introduction. It is brief and makes clear the focus of the essay, summarising this in 52 words.

But there is a good deal that is missing. The ‘position’ of the author is not established. There is no signposting: the reader isn’t given any indication of the main points or direction of the essay. There is also no clue as to what the conclusion might be.

Then there is the issue of the definitions. In this case, the definitions are rather bland and wordy in relation to the overall introduction word count.

3. When investigating the complex links between the media and the audience, it can be said that their relationship is ‘mutually constitutive’ (Evans, 2005, p. 2). This means that the media and the audience mutually influence each other; it is not a one-way process in either direction. This is demonstrated in research on many different forms of media and audience reactions such as the extensive research into soap operas. Audiences can be researched using many different methods and in many different contexts. This essay will look at how and why the audience is researched in terms of ‘effects’ and ‘uses’, in particular. When looking at the audience in terms of ‘effects’, the research usually looks at the causal effect that the media have on their audience in terms of behaviour and attitude. When looking at the audience in terms of ‘uses’, a different perspective is used; the research concentrates on how the audience uses the media and also how the audience can affect their production. Audience effects research is often laboratory-based and heavily controlled. When looking at the media and their uses and effects on the audience, this essay will also look at how the research is done. This is also very important as it allows the results and the relationship to be properly understood. I will conclude that effects and uses research shows most clearly the mutually constitutive relationship between the two and hence is most fruitful for examining in depth how we use our media.

This is quite comprehensive. Introduction 3 includes signposting of the different elements of the essay, the use of key concepts, particularly the concept of ‘mutual constitution’, giving the reader a good sense of its scope, and a clear indication of the conclusion.

However, the comprehensiveness is, in fact, also a problem: Introduction 3 goes too far, and includes material that should be left for the main body such as the discussion of key concepts or the description of audience effects research. The phrasing is also a bit flabby and, in places, confusing. For instance, ‘When looking at the media and their uses and effects on the audience, this essay will also look at how the research is done.’ The first part of the sentence could be deleted, and the second part reconfigured as: ‘The essay will also consider research processes, as these impact on research results.’ Consequently, the (confusing) sentence that then follows could also be deleted. The introduction will lose nothing.

 

Of the three introductions, which did you think worked best? On balance, we think that Introduction 1 was best, but that each one had merit as well as problems. Look again at the tutor comments: if you were writing this essay, which elements of each of the introductions would you use for your final draft?