9 On the basis of these criteria it

9 On the basis of these criteria it then describes the preparation of a set of polymer blends using PLA and a hydro-carbon rubber(PI). 10 Th is combination of two mechanistically distinct polymerisations formed a novel copolymer in which the incorporation of PI signifi cantly increased fl exibility. 1.3.2 Key In Sentence 1 'Polylactide (PLA) has received much attention in recent years due to its biodegradable properties, which off er important economic benefi ts.' the writer establishes the importance of this research topic. If you wrote 'introduces the topic' for Sentence 1, it won't really help when you come to write a real research article. How exactly do you 'introduce' a topic? You need to be more specifi c. Most research articles begin by indicating that the research fi eld or topic is useful or signifi cant. Th ey may focus on the quantity of research in this area, or how useful research in this area can be, or simply how important this research fi eld is. If you look at your target articles, you will probably fi nd something in the fi rst one or two sentences that establishes the signifi cance of the research. Phrases like much study in recent years or plays a major role are common here, and you'll fi nd a list of useful vocabulary for this in Section 1.4. What if I don't have the confi dence to say that my research is important? Most authors of research articles begin by establishing the signifi cance of their research; if you don't, it can look as though your research is NOT signifi cant, so don't be shy about stating why or how your fi eld is important or useful.