an abstract, or a brief description of the question you’re trying to evaluate
would be a much bigger improvement. Maybe some other signposts to help the reader grasp the structure of what you’re doing, but I think most important is for the reader to go in with some idea of (1) what’s at issue and (2) what you’re suggesting might be true. And maybe also of (3) what the prevailing consensus is and (4) why you think it might be wrong. Of course laying out #3 and #4 is the purpose of the whole article, but maybe you can give a brief summary for readers to hang their thoughts on.
It might be, but
would be a much bigger improvement. Maybe some other signposts to help the reader grasp the structure of what you’re doing, but I think most important is for the reader to go in with some idea of (1) what’s at issue and (2) what you’re suggesting might be true. And maybe also of (3) what the prevailing consensus is and (4) why you think it might be wrong. Of course laying out #3 and #4 is the purpose of the whole article, but maybe you can give a brief summary for readers to hang their thoughts on.
Yeah, signposts are good too.
Where are we going, how are we getting there?
Give the reader some structure up front to help him organize and consume the mass of info. And just know if he wants to read it too.
There is a snide comment I got from somewhere, but it comes to mind often:
Don’t make me wonder.