In an APA research paper, the introduction does not present a thesis. Rather, it asks a question—the research question. You answer your research question in the conclusion, not the introduction.

The introduction gives the reader a brief overview of the research paper. It often begins by referring to a recent news event, or to an ongoing situation, that suggests the gravity of the situation. You might include a striking statistic in the first paragraph as to indicate the seriousness of the topic.

A second paragraph often tells the reader, very briefly, how the situation has developed, often referring to specific policies, decisions and events that have shaped the present.

Often a third paragraph will state the controversy, and the main argument of each side.

The final paragraph of the introduction is the plan of the essay. It states the research question and lists the subtopics and subquestions.

News reference	Every year developing countries lose a large amount of highly skilled workers to developed countries.
statistic	For instance, Malawi is afflicted with Africa’s most severe nurse shortages. According to Roisin (n.d.), “More registered nurses have left to work abroad than the 336 who remain in the country’s public hospitals and clinics that serve most of its 11.6 million people” (para.6). This decreases the developing country’s human capital and thus its economic, social, and political sectors deteriorate.
Past policies that lead to the current situation	Governmental policies such as the H-1 visa program in the United States increased the mobility of these people. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 was responsible for bringing “workers of distinguished merit and ability into the country on a temporary basis to fill positions that were themselves of limited duration” (Kapur & McHale, 2005, p.54). This law has encouraged the exodus of millions of emigrants throughout the last half of the twentieth century.
controversy	The flow of highly skilled professionals from developing countries to industrial countries is controversial.
both sides of the debate	Supporters suggest that emigrants play a key role in the development of their home country. This is achieved by remittances, inward investments, and increased trade flows. However, critics argue that the loss of human capital decreases developing countries’ overall economic growth. plan of the essay paragraph
plan of the essay
research question	do remittances spur development in social services? T
subtopics	1. How large is the problem? 2 How many tertiary-educated individuals are emigrating? 3. What is the role of remittances in developing countries? 4. What are the roles of diaspora communities and developing countries? 5. What are the effects of absent skilled workers? 6. What is the price of lost labor? 7. Do remittances spur development in social services?