The document provides guidance on writing an effective introduction. It outlines that an introduction typically has three parts: a hook, a gap, and a thesis statement. The hook aims to engage the reader by presenting a problem or new perspective. The gap identifies a lack of knowledge that the research will address. Finally, the thesis statement declares the main argument or research question that the study will investigate. The document uses an example introduction related to vigilante killings in the Philippines to illustrate these components.

1. WRITING AN
INTRODUCTION
Prepared by
Bonifacio G. Train, Jr.
Head Research, NPC

2. • Writing an Introduction
• No one rule
• Three parts of an effective introduction:
• Hook
• Gap
• Thesis (or argument)
• It moves from what is known and why the
topic is important to what is lacking in our
knowledge, and finally to how your research
addresses this lack.
8/31/2022 Bonifacio G. Train, Jr. 2
THESIS

3. • HOOK
• Opening with a problem or instability – this
may come in the form of something new,
something different or something that entails a
change
• Can be ineffective when there is no grounding
or foreknowledge (thus it is important to
discuss previous information that is generally
known)
8/31/2022 Bonifacio G. Train, Jr. 3
THESIS

4. • GAP
• A sense of puzzlement or gap in the
knowledge
• Shows the unique perspective of the study (it
can be about looking at a phenomenon from
two disciplines, or a context that goes against
common logic or a challenge or prevailing
notions, or an application of a question in one
discipline to another)
8/31/2022 Bonifacio G. Train, Jr. 4
THESIS

5. • THESIS
• Discusses what you will be investigating or
arguing
• Thesis statement detailing your argument or a
research question driving your study
• The declarative thesis statement is a
summation of the argument you will be making
while the research question is an interrogative
sentence of what you plan to investigate.
8/31/2022 Bonifacio G. Train, Jr. 5
THESIS

6. Background of study/Hook:
During the first year of President Rodrigo
Duterte’s term in office, there has been a rise in
drug-related killings that were opposed by the
international community, human rights
organisations, and religious authorities. These
organisations have condemned killings done by
vigilante groups and police drug operations,
called Oplan Tokhang.
8/31/2022 Bonifacio G. Train, Jr. 6
THESIS

7. Gap:
Although police are being brought to
justice for their crimes, there is little systematic
knowledge about the vigilante groups and how
they operate. It seems as though these groups are
even enjoying impunity.
8/31/2022 Bonifacio G. Train, Jr. 7
THESIS

8. Statement of the Problem:
Given the importance of understanding this war on
drugs and investigating this gap in knowledge about
vigilante groups, this present research seeks to examine the
narratives of these vigilante-group killings from the
perspective of urban poor dwellers. In particular, the
research asks:
a. How do urban poor dwellers understand these
vigilante-group killings?
b. what are the characteristics of these vigilante
groups?
c. Why is it difficult to bring these people to justice?
8/31/2022 Bonifacio G. Train, Jr. 8
THESIS

9. DOs
• Start writing as early as possible.
Time is precious when you have
so much things to do.
• Explore your own ideas and
insights through writing but avoid
getting too stylistic.
• Try to explain the ideas in your
own words.
• Use the process to clarify your own
ideas and understand the world
around you.
DON’Ts
• Budget too little time for editing.
Give yourself more than one day
so you can read the paper with
fresh eyes.
• Include anything that doesn’t
directly answer to the thesis
statement.
• Cite Wikipedia as a source.
• Overshoot the word count to try to
earn more points. It shows that you
can’t follow instructions and edit
accordingly.
THESIS

10. Arce, W. F. (2001). An introduction for
Filipino practitioners: systematic qualitative data research. (2nd
ed.). Quezon City: ADMU-ORP.
Trinidad, E. T. (2018). Researching Philippine
realities: guide to qualitative, quantitative, and humanities research.
Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press.
UCOL Student Success Team. (2017). A guide to
APA referencing style (6th ed.).UCOL.
REFERENCES

11. Background Realities
• establishes the context of the research
• justifies the need for conducting the study and summarizes
what the study aims to achieve
• outlines the historical developments
• provide general information about the topic of your research
and emphasize the main aims of the study.

12. Background Realities
How to structure the background/realities
The section should be organized as:
• What is known about the broad topic?
• What are the gaps or missing links that need to be addressed?
• What is the significance of addressing those gaps?
• What are the rationale and hypothesis of your study?

13. PSOSEC ACTION RESEARCH FORMAT
• PROPOSAL DEFENSE
• OUTLINE OF THE MANUSCRIPT
• PPT PRESENTATION

14. Outline of the manuscript for the
Proposal Defense:
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
• Overview – one to two paragraphs only followed by Statement
of the Problem
• Significance of the Study
• Coverage of the Data Set
• Theoretical Framework
• Operational Planning Framework

15. Outline of the manuscript for the
Proposal Defense:
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION (continuation)
• Operational Definition of Terms
• Background Realities
• National Reality
• Focal Reality
• Review of Related Literature
• Conceptual Research
• Research Literature
• Analyses and Synthesis

16. Outline of the manuscript for the
Proposal Defense:
CHAPTER II METHODOLOGY AND DATA COLLECTION
PROCEDURES
• Research Design
• Approaches
• Triangulation
• Data Sources
• Primary Sources
• Secondary Sources
• Data Collection Method
• Modal or Adjectival and Verbal Interpretation (applicable only for
quantitative approach, delete if not applicable)

17. PSOSEC Format for the Proposal
Defense (PPT Presentation)
• Title/Name of the Presenters in alphabetical order
• Introduction
• Objectives (in lieu of the SOP)
• Frameworks
• Methodology
• Data Sources
• Coverage of the Data Set (Scope and Limitation)
• Analysing Results: Research Design