Writing an introduction chapter for your academic book might be one of the most intimidating parts of the manuscript writing process. The stakes feel high, because this is where readers will start and you want them to want to keep reading. And the fact is that some readers will only read the introduction before deciding whether to engage with your work and cite you in their own. So you understandably want to get this right.
Some writers begin with writing an introduction. Others rewrite the introduction entirely once they’ve written the rest of the manuscript and figured out what their book is really about. Whichever situation you’re in, I hope this template for academic book introductions helps you work past the overwhelm and just get something down on the page.
First, a caveat: you do not have to structure your intro this way. This template is merely a tool that may be useful if your current draft isn’t working or you have no idea where to start. I can’t stress this enough. You do you.
Another caveat: I’m sure some people think that using a formulaic structure in your writing is stultifying, but I don’t. Just because you present your ideas to readers within an expected structure doesn’t mean the content of what you say has to be predictable. In fact, structure that doesn’t show off can allow the content to shine.
The last set of caveats: the page lengths are just approximate suggestions. Not all of the bullet points need their own section headings; you can combine these sections however makes sense for you.
Here’s the template for your book intro:
opening anecdote/hook (~1–3pp)
The opening anecdote/hook should be something that will make readers care about what you have to say. Imagine a reader who is not already motivated to learn about your topic. What’s your go-to story when you explain your research to someone outside your field? It can be short!
Tie up this story by pointing to the broader meaning you want readers to take away from it. You’re preparing them for the key contribution you want them to associate with your book.
Statement of main thesis + why it matters (~1–2pp)
The statement of your main thesis is key. Give away the big idea driving your book right here. Then tell the reader why it’s important in the real world. Don’t be vague. Don’t worry about all the nuances and sub-arguments yet. It might feel scary to make a big claim, because you might be worried about all the holes critics will poke in it. Try not to think about that right now and just focus on the impact you want to make in the world and in your scholarly field. (See this post if you need help identifying your main thesis.)
Conceptual background (~6–12pp)
The conceptual background is not a literature review. You’ll probably cite other scholars here but you’re not summarizing their work. You’re telling the reader what they need to know in order to appreciate the new knowledge and theoretical advances you’re going to drop in the body chapters.
Background on research site/objects (~6–12pp)
The background on your research site or objects is also about getting your reader up to speed so they’re equipped to understand the novel data and analysis you’ll be presenting in your body chapters. This might include historical, political, or cultural context in addition to straight description of your site.
I’ve definitely seen people combine the two background sections into one, braiding the conceptual background with the historical background for example. That works if you can do it elegantly.
Research methods (~1–3pp)
You don’t need to go into minute detail with your research methods, unless you did something unexpected that requires lengthy explanation. I’d err on the side of concision, and then only expand if your editor or peer reviewers think you need more. If you have a lot to say about methods and methodology, consider including an appendix or publishing a separate article in a disciplinary journal.
Outline of chapters (~2–3pp)
Include an outline of chapters or don’t. If you do, use it to give away the arguments of the body chapters and to show how they relate to, build on, and/or push back against each other and the main thesis. Make this more of a meta-map of your book, rather than a summary of the research in each chapter, which could feel dry. Feel free to cut and paste from your book proposal’s annotated table of contents.
Closing (<1P)
I think it’s nice to end with a final paragraph that brings readers back to the real world and the stakes of your project as a set-up for the body chapters to come. Bonus points for you if you can pull this off.