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Is this question acceptable?: How to write an introduction

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    • CommentAuthorpaoloaceto
    • CommentTimeFeb 27th 2011
     
    I would like to ask a question about how to write the introduction
    of a master thesis, phd thesis or a paper. (of course these are different questions)
    I am sure that many graduate students would find that useful.
    There are many experts mathematicians on MO and I think they
    could provide a lot of good advices.

    Do you think that such a question is acceptable?
  2.  
    Have you looked at examples? And at the standard references?

    How to write mathematics: http://www.amazon.com/How-Write-Mathematics-Norman-Steenrod/dp/0821800558
    A primer of mathematical writing: http://www.amazon.com/Primer-Mathematical-Writing-Disquisition-Appreciated/dp/0821806351/
    Handbook of writing for the mathematical sciences: http://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Writing-Mathematical-Sciences-Nicholas/dp/0898714206/

    and Krantz wrote a recent article on a closely related topic at the Notices, How to write your first paper. Notices Amer. Math. Soc. 54 (2007), no. 11, 1507–1511
    • CommentAuthorgrp
    • CommentTimeFeb 27th 2011
     
    I would say your question is rather broad, and has some answers outside of MathOverflow. A better question might look like this: "I am trying to decide how to write my introduction to my article. Website A recommends that I try this style,
    Professor B suggests I do it this way (akthough B is not in the math dept.), and manonthestreetC recommends this third way. Which way do you think is best? Or, is there an even better way?" This question seems better to me because it suggests you have put some time and effort into answering it already. However, I would answer this question by saying : "Really, you need to consider your audience, and tell us more specific goals. I would not recommend anything until I know more about those two factors and these other three actors which should be considered before asking for recommendations, blah, blah ,blah." (Of course, read the MathOverflow 'How To Ask' section again to make sure you
    aren't missing something obvious.)

    Well I wouldn't answer exactly that, but I hope this helps you write an even better question. A good exercise is to imagine the type of answer you are looking for, and then incorporate that into your question, or briefly tell the reader what will not be helpful.

    Gerhard "Ask Me About Asking Me" Paseman, 2011.02.26
    • CommentAuthortheojf
    • CommentTimeMar 2nd 2011
     

    Myself, I'm not wowed by Gerhard Paseman's suggestion, but I agree that precisification may improve your main question. Your main question is certainly a good one, and I think many young and old researchers (myself included!) would like to learn more about how to write well. I worry that it is outside the trying-to-be-narrow scope of MO.

    If memory serves, there are some MO questions generating lists of good mathematical writing? If these do exist, I suggest you look at them, and think about what works and what doesn't. If it does not exist, I could imagine you asking for such a list, or focus it on a list of articles with well-written introductions.

    I would support a (CW!) question asking not for advice about how to write an introduction, but for things that people like in good introductions. For example, I like "sign-posting", when you very clearly lay out what you are going to say before saying it. So that answers don't draw on, if I were asking the question I would specify that I was looking for one-sentence answers.

  5.  
    I like the "what do you like to see in introductions" version too (though I don't have a very good answer yet). It would make a good CW question, and I suspect it would show wildly differing expectations.

    Also, if we don't have one already, a question that would create a repository of articles and books about writing good mathematics could be useful, especially if each entry is described thoroughly by people who have read it.
    • CommentAuthorMariano
    • CommentTimeMar 4th 2011
     

    precisification?!

    • CommentAuthorDL
    • CommentTimeMar 4th 2011 edited
     
    It's the left adjoint to the forgetful functor from the category of precise MO questions to the category of all MO questions.

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