A preface is the beginning of an essay and is usually used to introduce the theme, context, and purpose to provide the reader with an overall overview of the content and a reading guide.
The following is the general composition and necessary content of the preface:
1.Introduce the topic: The first task of the introduction is to get the reader's interest and make it interesting to the article. You can introduce the topic by asking a compelling question, telling a compelling story, or quoting an infectious quote.
2.Provide context: Providing background information in the preface can help readers understand the context of the topic or event discussed in the article. This information can be historical background, social background, development background of scientific research, etc., so that readers can better understand the content of the article.
3.State the purpose of the research or writing: The preface should also clearly state the research purpose or writing goal of the article, that is, what goal or point of view the author hopes to achieve through the article. This allows the reader to clarify the meaning and direction of the article.
4.Provide an outline or structural guide: In the introduction, you can provide an outline or structural guide to the article, giving a preview of the different content and chapters that will be covered. In this way, readers can understand the organizational structure of the article in advance and better understand the logic and ideas of the article.
5.Stimulate the reader's thinking: The preface can stimulate the reader's thinking by asking questions, quoting ideas or concepts, etc., and prompting them to actively participate in the reading and thinking of the article. This increases the reader's engagement and interest.
6.Expression of personal emotion or position (as the case may be): Some articles also include the author's personal expression of emotion or position statement on the topic in the preface. This allows the reader to better understand the author's motivations and attitudes, especially in some articles with a strong personal point of view.
The above is not the entire preface, depending on the type of article and the purpose of writing. The goal of the preface is to provide readers with an engaging entry point and overall overview that will help them better understand and appreciate what follows. Therefore, when writing a foreword, it is necessary to fully consider the needs and expectations of readers, as well as the characteristics and purpose of the article, to ensure that the preface is accurate, concise, and attractive.