diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 32e8d699..9e0a8034 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ Take a look at [CONTRIBUTING](CONTRIBUTING.md) for specifics on how to contribut
 
 [JavaDocs](https://janeirodigital.github.io/sai-java/) are generated and published with each release.
 
-## Getting Started
+## Installation
 
 In your `pom.xml`:
 
@@ -28,3 +28,49 @@ In your `pom.xml`:
 	</dependency>
 </dependencies>
 ```
+
+## Getting Started
+
+This library implements all of the patterns defined in the 
+[Solid Application Interoperability Specification](https://solid.github.io/data-interoperability-panel/specification/),
+which will hereafter be referred to as "the specification".
+Consequently, becoming familiar with that text and the patterns therein will be helpful, and we will link to the
+pertinent ones throughout.
+
+### Initializing the Application
+
+The first thing your application will need to do is initialize an `Application` instance. An application instance
+in this context represents an [Application](https://solid.github.io/data-interoperability-panel/specification/) 
+as defined in the specification.
+
+```java
+URI applicationId = URI.create("https://projectron.example/id");
+AuthorizedSessionAccessor sessionAccessor = new BasicAuthorizedSessionAccessor();
+boolean validateSsl = true;
+boolean validateShapeTrees = false;
+boolean refreshTokens = true;
+Application app = new Application(applicationId, validateSsl, validateShapeTrees, refreshTokens, sessionAccessor);
+```
+
+Lets break down the parameters provided above:
+
+* `applicationId`: This is the URI of the Application's Profile ID. Effectively, the WebID of the Application.
+
+* `sessionAccessor`: This is an implementation of the 
+[`AuthorizedSessionAccessor`](https://janeirodigital.github.io/sai-authentication-java/com/janeirodigital/sai/authentication/AuthorizedSessionAccessor.html) 
+interface as defined by 
+[sai-authentication-java](https://github.com/janeirodigital/sai-authentication-java).
+It lets the application get and put authorized session credentials used to interface
+with a given Social Agent's data on their behalf. A basic in-memory implementation is 
+provided along with that library, but production
+scenarios may want to provide a more robust implementation with something like Redis
+or even an RDBMS.
+
+* `validateSsl`: Toggle whether to skip SSL validation and errors. **Only for use in development or test scenarios**.
+
+* `validateShapeTrees`: Toggle whether to enable client-side shape tree validation. Useful when storage servers
+do not apply server-side validation. When false, no validation will be applied. This validation is performed
+by intercepting requests sent and received via OkHttpClient instances.
+
+* `refreshTokens`: Toggle whether to refresh tokens automatically when they expire.
+