2.1 Review Question 1:What Are the Focuses of Genr...
A review of the studies in the key word map and seminal research in the field shows that the studies have four distinctive focuses.The first focus is the identification of the schematic structure of a particular genre or part-genre(e.g.Nwogu,1997;Swales,1981).For instance,Brett(1994)investigated the moves used in the RA Results section by analysing 20 Sociology articles.The research is one of the first genre analysis studies of RA Results.According to Brett,his study aimed to“present a provisional,pedagogically usable description of…“moves”…found in the Results sections”(p.47).Although the study revealed variation between Sociology Results and Science Discussions(Hopkins &Dudley-Evans,1988),the main focus was on the description of moves in RA Results rather than disciplinary variation.The second type of genre analysis studies focusses on the applicability of existing move models on a particular set of data(e.g.Anthony,1999;Lakic,1997;Posteguillo,1999).For example,Anthony(1999)used CARS model(Swales,1990)to analyse the Introductions of 12 Software Engineering articles.Anthony stated that the purpose of the study was to“evaluate(d)”the CARS model“in terms of how well it can be applied to 12 articles…in the field of software engineering”(p.38).Studies of the third type focus on the variation of different data sets(Change over time:Li &Ge,2009;Disciplinary variation:Atai &Habibie,2009;Kanoksilapatham,2012;Ozturk,2007;2005;Samraj,2002;Habibi,2008;Duszak,1994;First language variation:Árvay &Tankó,2004;Fakhri,2004;Hirano,2009;Kanoksilapatham,2007;Loi &Evans,2010;Mahzari &Maftoon,2007;Sheldon,2011).For example,Loi &Evans(2010)examined the differences in the use of moves and steps between 40 Chinese and English Introductions of Education Psychology articles,based on Swales CARS model(1990,2004).The focus of the study was on cultural variation in genre practices.The fourth type of studies explored the link between moves and linguistic features such as lexical bundles(del Saz Rubio,M.Milagros,2011;Le &Harrington,2015;Lim,2012;Mur-Dueñas,2012;Shahriari Ahmadi,Ghonsooly,&Hosseini Fatemi,2012).For example,Le and Harrington(2015)examined the lexical bundles associated with the move of Commenting on results in 124 Discussions of RA in Applied Linguistics.They identified the clusters used in each of the three steps(i.e.Interpreting results,Comparing results and Accounting for results)of the move.In sum,the four stages are:
●Stage 1:Develop move models;
●Stage 2:Test existing move models;
●Stage 3:Explore the genre variation between different sets of texts;
●Stage 4:Investigate the linguistic/metadiscoursal features of each move/step.
In the first stage a new schematic structure is developed,for example,Swales developed the move model for Introduction,also known as CARS model,in 1981.In Stage 2,existing models are tested on new set of texts and revisions are made where the model cannot adequately describe the real situation.After Swales put forward the CARS model,studies were carried out to verify the model in different situations,including different disciplines and different languages.New moves are identified when the existing move model cannot describe the schematic structure.The studies in the first two stages often adopt the qualitative approach in data analysis.Quantitative data analysis methods are more likely to be used in Stage 3 and 4.In Stage 3,the move model is used to explore the variation among different sets of texts.The difference is usually shown in frequency and sequence of moves.In this stage,the main concern of researchers is whether there is a difference between two or more sets of texts in the frequency or sequence of moves and why there is variation.The variation studies are examined in detail in the discussion of the second review question.
There are two major differences between Stage 2 and Stage 3 studies.First they have different focuses,with Stage 2 studies focusing on the generalizability of the model under examination while Stage 3 studies focusing on the variation of models in different situations.In other words,Stage 2 studies typically use one set of scripts and check the generalizability of the model while Stage 3 studies examine the variation of a model in two or more sets of scripts.
Linguistic realization and discoursal features of moves or steps are the main focus of Stage 4 research.Though linguistic realization of moves is sometimes investigated in previous stages,it becomes the major concern after the model is well-established and the variations in models have been addressed.The investigation into linguistic realization in previous genre-based studies mainly focus on the lexical-grammatical forms,such as the tense,voice and lexical bundles.Hedges and boosters are examined too.Stage 4 studies examine the discoursal features of each move in a more systematic manner.For example,del Saz Rubio(2011)integrated the metadiscoursal features identified by Hyland(2005)in his move study on Introductions of RA in Agricultural Sciences.He investigated the use of metadiscoursal devices,such as transitional markers,frame markers,endophoric markers and engagement markers in each move.Admittedly,there is an overlap between Stage 3 and 4 studies.Some studies investigate the variation between texts and discoursal features at the same time(Shahriari Ahmadi et al.,2012).Variation in schematic structure still attracts a lot attention,though we see a rise in discoursal features studies since 2011.
Compared with move studies on RA Introductions,the investigations into other sections start late,with the first paper on Discussion published seven years after Swales’work in 1988 written by Hopkins and Dudley-Evan,the first study on Result sections in 1994 by Brett,the first Method study in 1997 by Nwogu.There are fewer studies on these sections and the schematic structure in these sections is not as well examined as Introduction(see Table 3).
Unlike studies on Introductions,researchers examining Method,Result and Discussion sections are aware of the possibility of disciplinary variation at the outset.The move models they propose are usually extracted from texts in a single discipline.Although there are also move models on the Introduction sections developed based on texts of a single discipline(Biochemistry:Kanoksilapatham,2005;Medical Sciences:Nwogu,1997),they all resemble Swales’model,which remain the most popular model in studies on Introduction.The findings show that Swales’model captures the features of Introductions in different disciplines well.In addition,it indicates that the schematic structure of Introductions does not vary much across disciplines.The diversified move models in Method,Result and Discussion sections may suggest more disciplinary variation in the schematic structure of these sections.Review question 2 explores the factors that may lead to variation in RA and dissertation schematic structure.
Table 3 Studies on Method,Result and Discussion in the four stages
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