Editor’s Toolkit: Introduction to the Chapter

What Is the Purpose of a Chapter Introduction?

Often, the students who are reading a textbook are quite new to the field of study. They may be taking their first class in a particular discipline. If they are actually majoring in the subject matter, the book may still be used in a course that covers new ground.

An effective chapter introduction sets the stage for effective reading and learning. It introduces the chapter content in a way that makes it accessible to readers and gets their buy-in.

There are two methods of crafting a chapter introduction that are particularly effective for instructional purposes:

Method I: Overview, Rationale, Methodology

Method II: Connection, General Overview, Specific Focus