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What is the proper way to introduce a diversion in a paper? I would imagine you don't go with the Herodotus-like “If I may divert here..” It's not way off topic, but it's not part of the thesis. And it's a needed diversion to either make a point or explain something. And I'm only thinking either a paragraph or two for a short (10-12 pp) paper or a page or two, if necessary, for a longer (30 pg) paper. Would it help if I told you what I was writing about? It make make a difference before people say don't do this.
In some case you just put it in a footnote. But you say here that it's “needed…to either make a point or explain something”. So, maybe you can start it under another chapter heading? If not, the only way in my mind is to try to explain its relation to the main topic on paper as you have already done in your head. In other words, if you can explain the relation between A and B out loud (e.g. to us, informatlly), then you should be able to do the same in your paper.
It has to do with a particular sport and how it came about and how and why it split into two different entities (League and Union)in British history. Although the current thesis is British history and Industrial Age Britain, it also involves colonialism, particularly in Australia. I think it's possible to tie it in, depending upon how I create my thesis, but it's dangerous because the writer could go into a different topic altogether. (like the history of this sport in Australia) That's why I'm thinking a short diversion. A footnote may be possible, but I don't know the max length a footnote should be. (I'm thinking it might be too long for just a footnote). The topic may be too broad, but for undergrad studies I don't think it is...but I guess that all depends on the chosen thesis. Am I writing about the history of this sport which originated in and was spread globally by the Brits, or am I writing about the history of the sport just in Great Britain? I don't know yet. And if doing the latter question, would I have to omit not only Australia, but also Ireland and France? (in my opinion, that it would be wrong to omit because international competition is going to be in this paper)
Footnote it and make sure you call the reader's attention to it if it is that important. Try to avoid diversions in the main body of your paper.
Just briefly introduce your diversion as: “For more background on the history of this sport see footnote below.” You can enclose this sentence in parentheses if you wish with the footnote number after it. Your footnote can be a couple of paragraphs if necessary, but it had better be necessary if you get my drift. 🙂
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