「序論（introduction）」は、エッセイの最初の段落です。つまり、題名の直後の段落が序論となり、読者が最初に目を通す箇所です。 よって、読者の第１印象を良くする為に、読者の興味をひきつけるような文章にしないといけません。 それでは、どうやって、読者をひきつけると良いのでしょうか？ トピックの歴史的説明 トピックに関するデータの提示 個人の経験談 背景の説明 主に、以上の３つのテクニックを使います。それでは、実際の例を見て見ましょう。 "Internationalization" is one of the keywords in the 21st century. To analyze social, economic, and political matters, it is often used. Now, it seems to be a very new concept. However, Japanese internationalization is old, and it is important to think about Japanese culture. In 1853, an important event occurred in Uraga. Matthew Perry came with several warships. It gives strong influence to Japanese history. In 1867, political power was returned to the emperor, and the Meiji Era was started. This era is the beginning of Japanese westernization. ... 上は、序論の一部です。エッセイのトピックは、「日本文化と国際化について」。この序論では、日本文化と国際化が、どの様に関係しているのかを、歴史的に説明しているのが分かります。 Has the world population reached the Earth's carrying capacity? In 2000, the population reached 6 billion, and will reach 9 billion in a few decades. Many experts have started warn of the danger of the population explosion, because many problems have came out in the world. For example, forty thousand people dies a day because of starvation. This means the population explosion is one of the causes of lack of food. ... 「急激な人口増加問題」に関するエッセイの序論の一部です。具体的なデータが、所々で示されています。 読者が、「あー、そうなんだ」と、感じることが出来るような面白いデータを見つけることが出来たら、こちらの勝ちでしょう。 Hanako Sato arrived at JFK airport, New York in January. This was the beginning of her life in the U.S.A. She took a taxi, and went to ABC Language School at first. She wanted to see school where she studies. Although she was very tired, she met many friends, teachers, advisors and staffs. They welcomed Hanako very much, and she was sure of her success in the U.S.A. ... 「留学の重要性」と言うトピックの序論に一部です。身近な体験談を示すことにより、読者も共感することでしょう。 Internationalization and globalization. Many people recently use these words. For example, there are many books or articles titled "internationalization of economy". Why have these words become popular in the world? Probably, many answers can be shown. The development of the internet is one of the answers. Because of this technology, people in the world can get information immediately. This has helped to introduce cultures internationally. This is internationalization of culture. The progress of transportation is also a possible answer. This progress improved international physical distribution of goods. Internationalization of economy definitely influenced by the progress. Globalization of culture or economy is used like internationalization. In other words, many people tend to think globalization has same meaning with internationalization. However, this is wrong. The word "national" and the word "global" are different, so inter-national-ization and global-ization can't have same meaning. There are three main diferrences between globalization and internationalization. 「"Internationalization"と"Globalization"の違い」と言うトピックの序論の全文です。データや歴史的な説明は行われていませんが、 インターナショナリゼーションとグローバリゼーションについての背景を説明しています。 「トピックの背景を書く」の序論の例で、前回の講義で学んだ文が出てきたのに気づいた方もいると思います。 最後の文です。 There are three main diferrences between globalization and internationalization. 「主題文（thesis statement）」でした。この様に、エッセイの主題文は、序論の最後に置きます。 つまり、序論は、主題文を示すための「繋ぎ」的な役割もあるのです。 最後に、もう一つだけ、序論の例を挙げておきます。 The problem of resources has been a serious problem. Oil which is a primary resource in the world is limited, so alternative resources are needed . Humans have thought many alternatives for long time. For example, in 1950's, nuclear was introduced. The world's leading countries such as the U.S.A., the U.K., Russia and Japan decided to build nuclear power plants with hope to be a solution of the problem. However, in 1986, the Chernobyl accident happened in Russia. This serious nuclear power plant's accident impressed people with risk of nuclear. In addition, in 1996, the Tokai-mura nuclear accident broke out in Japan. Japanese nuclear facilities seemed to be safe and managed with severe rules at that time, so this accident gave the people a terrible shock. Because of these accidents, public opinion made against the nuclear policies. Some governments have decided not to build nuclear power plants. This trend leads a problem - the problem of resources. Now the alternatuve resource, nuclear, is lost, so people have to go back to oil. Although the amount of oil is reducing, the use of energy is increasing now and will keep to increase in the future. According to the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy of Japan, in 2020, 1,640 million tons of oil-equivalent will be added to the consumption in the year 1997. Because of the decrease of the amount of oil, this addition should be compensated by other resources. Renewable energy, which can be used infinitely such as solar power, wind power and wave power, is an example of other resources, and it should be a primary resource in the future.

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