Evaluation in research article introductions: A comparison of the strategies used by Chinese and British authors

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 797-818 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyu Xu ◽  
Hilary Nesi
Keyword(s):  
Applied Linguistics ◽  
Journal Article ◽  
Research Community ◽  
Research Topic ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Genre Analysis ◽  
Appraisal Theory ◽  
Cultural Variation ◽  
Research Article

Abstract This article investigates differences in evaluative style in introductions to research articles written by scholars from China and Britain. A corpus of 30 research article introductions in applied linguistics was analysed in terms of Appraisal Theory and genre analysis, using the UAM Corpus Tool. Findings from this analysis suggest that both the Chinese and the British authors were aware of the need to argue for their own opinions and maintain good relationships with their readers. However, the Chinese writers made more categorical assertions, supported by lists of references to prior studies, while the British writers were more likely to acknowledge the existence of alternative views within the research community, and were more explicit about their own attitudes towards the research topic, prior studies, and their own work. The findings, and the illustrative examples, can inform the design of programmes to help novice researchers publish internationally, and might also usefully raise the awareness of journal article reviewers and editors regarding cultural variation in approaches to stance-taking.

Bridging boundaries across genre traditions

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-293
Author(s):  
Isaac Nuokyaa-Ire Mwinlaaru
Keyword(s):  
Identity Construction ◽  
Frequency Distribution ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Applied Linguistics ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Lexical Bundles ◽  
Functional Linguistics ◽  
Research Article

Abstract This study explores the benefits of a synergy between ESP research on genre and theoretical dimensions of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). It models genre on SFL dimensions and employs this model to analyse 200 biodata written by Applied Linguistics scholars, 100 each from research articles and seminar posters. Data were analysed from contextual, logico-semantic and lexicogrammatical perspectives. The findings reveal five generic stages in biodata. The frequency distribution of these stages and the phases that realise them shows variation between research article bios and seminar bios. The most frequent logico-semantic (or rhetorical) relations identified among stages and phases are of the expansion type, namely addition and elaboration, Further, collocational frameworks are used in organising some generic phases into waves of meaning and in construing different identities. Finally, evaluative resources, in the form of lexical bundles, modification and circumstantial elements in the clause, are employed by writers to boost their professional achievements and promote themselves. These findings contribute to theoretical discussions on genre and the scholarship on the interface between identity construction and academic writing, and also motivate further research.

Review of the Discussion Section of Research Articles: Rhetorical Structure and Move

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-25
Author(s):  
Yasir Bdaiwi Al-Shujairi
Keyword(s):  
Writing Process ◽  
Applied Linguistics ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Discussion Section ◽  
Rhetorical Structure ◽  
Research Article ◽  
Scientific Disciplines ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Main Components

      The discussion section forms an integral part in the writing process of a research article (RA). Research authors find it difficult to write and produce a well-structured discussion for their findings. The reason could be due to the unawareness of the main components (rhetorical moves) that shape this section. Therefore, this paper aims to provide a review of the studies that have been done to analyze the discussion section of RAs over the last 36 years. Also, this review seeks to examine the discussion section of RAs across various scientific disciplines and different types of journals. The review showed that the rhetorical structure of RAs discussion section witnessed some changes over the course of time. New moves such as Research Implications and Research Limitations started to be parts of the discussion section of RAs. In addition, it was revealed that differences in writing the discussion section can be varied broadly across disciplines such as soft sciences (e.g., applied linguistics, sociology, psychology) and hard sciences (e.g., engineering, chemistry, biology) and slightly across types of journals such as ISI and local journals. In conclusion, this paper offered several suggestions for further research to be conducted in the area.  

A Mixed Methods Genre Analysis of the Discussion Section of MMR Articles in Applied Linguistics

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 242-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad R. Hashemi ◽  
Iman Gohari Moghaddam
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Applied Linguistics ◽  
Genre Analysis ◽  
Discussion Section ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
The Past ◽  
Research Article ◽  
Organizational Patterns ◽  
Academic Genres

The research article, among other academic genres, has attracted researchers’ attention over the past decades. Although sections such as introduction, method, and results and discussion have been addressed in such studies, the mixed methods research (MMR) discussion genre remains underexplored. Thus, the present study aimed at exploring the generic organizational patterns in applied linguistics MMR articles. A qualitatively driven mixed methods approach was utilized to explore 38 MMR discussions. As a result, there emerged a five-move model for genre macro-organization and rhetorical move structure of the MMR discussions. The study concludes by presenting implications for writing effective MMR discussions.

scholarly journals Semantic Categories of Reporting Verbs across Four Disciplines in Research Articles

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 89
Author(s):  
Sani Yantandu Uba
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Textual Analysis ◽  
Applied Linguistics ◽  
Levels Of Analysis ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Semantic Categories ◽  
Course Materials ◽  
Research Article ◽  
Raising Awareness

This paper investigates semantic categories of reporting verbs across four disciplines: Accounting, Applied Linguistics, Engineering and Medicine in research article genre. A general corpus of one million words and sub-corpus (for each discipline) were compiled from a total of 120 articles representing 30 articles from each discipline. In this study, two levels of analysis were conducted. Firstly, I randomly selected five articles from each discipline and read and reread each article identifying what reporting verbs are used, in what context are used and why such reporting verbs are used. This process enabled me to identify semantic categories of reporting verbs. Secondly, on the basis of the identified list of semantic categories of reporting verbs, I used the list in generating concordance output for quantitative textual analysis of each sub-corpus of the four disciplines, as well as the general corpus. The results of the study show that writers from both Accounting and Applied Linguistics are having a high frequency of reporting verbs than writers from Engineering and Medicine disciplines. It also shows that there are certain commonalities and differences between the disciplines. For example, all the disciplines are having frequency of the three semantic categories of reporting verbs but with certain degree of variations. The study recommends raising awareness of students on semantic categories of reporting verbs. The results could also help EAP/ESP teachers in designing course materials for discipline specific reporting verbs. It could also be helpful for textbook course designers in developing textbooks for teaching reporting verbs.

scholarly journals Genre Analysis: Studying Authorial Stance in the Pakistani Research Articles of Business and Management Sciences

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 455
Author(s):  
Arjamand Bilal ◽  
Wasima Shehzad
Keyword(s):  
Considerable Degree ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Genre Analysis ◽  
Research Article ◽  
Genre Awareness ◽  
Maintain Relationship ◽  
Business And Management

The notion of authorial stance has received much attention internationally in recent years which has increased its complexity in terms of its relationship with genre-pedagogy and genre-awareness. Metadiscourse markers are used by academic writers in order to build and maintain relationship with their readers. This is done by use of appropriate language either to influence them or show a certain degree of agreement or disagreement. The present study investigated the stance features as they appeared in the genre of research article introduction section written by seasoned authors. 50 papers from the field of Business and Management Sciences were studied in order to explore the language features projecting authorial stance or author’s voice used by authors. Hyland’s (2005b) Model of Academic Interaction was used to study the authorial stance. The findings showed that the authors used a considerable degree of stance features in their research articles. The study may provide some useful insights regarding teaching the writing of research article, understanding the concepts of genre-competence and genre-production.

scholarly journals RHETORICAL STRATEGIES USED IN MALAY RESEARCH ARTICLE CONCLUSIONS

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (15) ◽  
pp. 01-12
Author(s):  
Chek Kim Loi ◽  
Yoke Lian Lau ◽  
Chow Thai Soon ◽  
Nur Shafiekah Sapan ◽  
Siti Aishah Ramli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Research ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Appraisal Theory ◽  
Rhetorical Strategies ◽  
Research Article

This paper explains a combination of genre-based knowledge and evaluative stance in the context of academic arguments used in the conclusion sections of Malay research articles. For this purpose, it draws on an analysis of the features in Appraisal theory (Martin & Rose, 2003) together with a move analysis (Swales, 1990, 2004). The data comprises empirical research articles. The conformity with the standard IMRD (Introduction- Method- Results- Discussion) is taken as the first similar feature when selecting the set of empirical research articles from the selected journals. Among others, the findings observe that evaluative stances produce rhetorical effects in Malay conclusions. When taking a stance, both the evoked Attitudes and inscribed Attitudes are employed. A closer examination shows that the evoked Attitudes and inscribed Attitudes are either used separately or simultaneously to realize a move.

scholarly journals Phrasal Discourse Style in Cross-Disciplinary Writing: A Comparison of Phrasal Complexity Features in the Results Sections of Research Articles

2020 ◽  
Vol 83 ◽  
pp. 191-204
Author(s):  
Muhammed Parviz ◽  
Alireza Jalilifar ◽  
Alexanne Don
Keyword(s):  
Academic Writing ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Applied Linguistics ◽  
Academic Disciplines ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Disciplinary Writing ◽  
Prepositional Phrases ◽  
Manual Search ◽  
Research Article ◽  
Rate Of Success

The present study aimed at exploring how research article writers from two academic disciplines exploit phrasal complexity features (PCFs) to verbalize the results sections of research articles with the eventual aim of assisting advanced EFL writers with their composition strategies. To this end, following a manual search, 200 empirical research articles in the fields of Applied Linguistics and Physics were comparatively examined. Due to the low rate of success of tagging programs in identifying the occurrences of PCFs, the datasets were also manually analyzed. The results revealed that the research article writers drew upon three high-frequency phrasal complexity features, namely, pre-modifying adjectives, post-modifying prepositional phrases, and nominalizations. The study also revealed that the results sections of research articles included different amounts of exceedingly complex patterns of pre-modification, a hybrid of novel appositive structures, and great reliance on hyphenated adjectives. Overall, we believe that these findings can be used to heighten the awareness of academic writers and instructors regarding the linguistic characteristics of academic writing and of the variations of how such phrasal features of compression are constructed in different academic subjects.

scholarly journals Cross-Cultural Variation in the Use of Hedges and Boosters in Academic Discourse

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Dontcheva-Navratilova
Keyword(s):  
Applied Linguistics ◽  
Academic Discourse ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Cultural Variation ◽  
Rhetorical Structure ◽  
Rate Distribution ◽  
The Cross ◽  
Target Readership ◽  
Shed Light

Abstract Hedges and boosters are important metadiscoursal devices contributing to the construal of persuasion in academic discourse as they enable academic writers to distinguish facts from opinions, evaluate the views of others and convey a different degree of commitment to their assertions (cf. Hyland 1998a, Hyland 2004, 2005). This study explores cross-cultural variation in the use of lexical hedges and boosters in the academic discourse of non-native writers. The study is carried out on a specialized corpus of linguistics research articles published in the international journal Applied Linguistics and the national Czech English-medium journal Discourse and Interaction. The main purpose of the cross-cultural investigation is to analyze variation in the rate, distribution and choice of hedges and boosters across the rhetorical structure of research articles in order to shed light on ways in which Anglophone and Czech writers express different degrees of commitment in their assertions when striving to persuade their target readership to accept their views and claims.

scholarly journals A GENRE ANALYSIS ON THE DISCUSSION SECTION OF QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH ARTICLES IN ELT ANDLINGUISTICS

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-183
Author(s):  
Alfin Zalicha Hilmi ◽  
Toyyibah Toyyibah ◽  
Nur Afifi
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Genre Analysis ◽  
Discussion Section ◽  
Generic Structure ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Quantitative And Qualitative Research ◽  
Research Article ◽  
And Linguistics

This study aimed at: 1) investigating the move and steps found in quantitative and qualitative research articles discussion; 2) investigating the rhetoric structure patterns of quantitative and qualitative research article discussion. This study is a qualitative-research focusing on genre analysis on qualitative and quantitative RA discussions. There were 20 qualitative and 20 quantitative research article discussions of EFL and applied linguistics journals were investigated in this research. Using Yang & Allison’s (2003) framework to analyze the data, it is found that all moves in the framework were employed in RA discussion of both qualitative and quantitative research. However, the number of occurrences of each move were different between discussion section of these two different approaches. Furthermore, the patterns of both qualitative and quantitative RA discussion was not significantly different. There were two types of patterns in RA discussion both in qualitative and quantitative, repetitive pattern and organized pattern. although there were some variations in each of those patterns. The present study provides more evidence of generic structure of RA discussion section as well as proposes some useful insights related to move analysis on research article discussion in ELT and Linguistics area. Limitations and recommendations are discussed in this study.

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