Rhetorical structure of research paper introductions in computer science: a comparative analysis
Research paper introductions are considered challenging, especially for academic writers whose native language is different from English. Despite the large interest in the rhetorical organization of research papers across various disciplines and cultures, little is known about the structural patterns used by Russian authors in English-language research paper introductions in Computer Science as one of the fastest growing scientific fields. To fill the gap, this paper investigates the ways Russian academic writers organize their introductions as compared to the norms of the international scientific community where English is the acknowledged lingua franca. The purpose of this study is to identify discrepancies between the approaches to structuring computer science introductions generated in the English language by Russian and Anglophone authors. Drawing evidence from 43 research papers published in highly ranked Russian and Anglophone journals in Computer Science, it addresses the main features specific to research paper introductions in this field and analyzes how rhetorical moves are realized linguistically by both native and non-native academic writers based on the create-a-research-space (CARS) model. The results of the qualitative study show that Russian authors make use of fewer strategies than native English writers; moreover, the former tend to avoid the ‘establishing a niche’ move, which is considered obligatory in the structure of a research paper introduction. The paper adds to the exploration of cross-cultural variations in academic writing.
Aleshinskaya, E. V. (2023). Rhetorical structure of research paper introductions in computer science: a comparative analysis, Research Result. Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, 9 (3), 53-64. DOI: 10.18413/2313-8912-2023-9-3-0-4
While nobody left any comments to this publication.
You can be first.
Afshar, H. S., Doosti, M. and Movassagh, H. (2018). A genre analysis of the introduction section of applied linguistics and chemistry research articles, Iranian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 21 (1), 163-214. (In English)
Aleshinskaya, E. and Albatsha, A. (2020). A cognitive model to enhance professional competence in computer science, Procedia Computer Science, 169, 326-329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2020.02.191(In English)
Alharbi, S. H. (2016). A discourse analysis of Arabic research articles in Islamic Studies, International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 4 (6), 198-206. (In English)
Alsharif, M. (2022). Rhetorical move structure in business management research article introductions, Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 18 (4), 1268-1283. (In English)
Amnuai, W. (2019). Analyses of rhetorical moves and linguistic realizations in accounting research article abstracts published in international and Thai-based journals, SAGE Open, 9 (1), 1-9. (In English)
Amnuai, W. (2021). A comparison of niche establishments in English research article introductions published in international and Thai journals, Discourse and Interaction, 14 (2), 24-40. https://doi.org/10.5817/DI2021-2-24(In English)
Arianto, M. A. and Basthomi, Y. (2021). The authors’ research gap strategies in ELT research article introductions: does Scopus journal quartile matter?, Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 17 (4), 1743-1759. https://doi.org/10.52462/jlls.127(In English)
Bajwa, N. H., König, C. J. and Kunze, T. (2020). Evidence-based understanding of introductions of research articles, Scientometrics, 124, 195-217. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-020-03475-9(In English)
Behnam, B. and Zamanian, J. (2015). Genre analysis of Oxford and Tabriz applied linguistics research article abstracts: from move structure to transitivity analysis, The Journal of Applied Linguistics, 6 (12), 41-59. (In English)
Bolsunovskaya, L. M. and Rymanova, I. E. (2020). Academic writing: difficulties and possible solutions for engineering students, Vysshee Obrazovanie v Rossii = Higher Education in Russia, 29 (10), 77-85. https://doi.org/10.31992/0869-3617-2020-29-10-77-85(In English)
Bruce, I. (2009). Results sections in sociology and organic chemistry articles: a genre analysis, English for Specific Purposes, 28 (2), 105-124. (In English)
Chen, X. and Li, M. (2019). Chinese learner writers’ niche establishment in the literature review chapter of theses: a diachronic perspective, Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 39, 48-58. (In English)
Cotos, E., Huffman, S. and Link, S. (2017). A move/step model for methods sections: demonstrating rigour and credibility, English for Specific Purposes, 46 (3), 90-106. (In English)
Devitt, A. (2004). Writing genres, Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale, IL. (In English)
Ebrahimi, B. and Weisi, H. (2019). Genre variation in the introduction of scientific papers in Iranian and international computer science journals, Issues in Language Teaching, 8 (2), 51-82. (In English)
Ecarnot, F., Seronde, M.-F., Chopard, R., Schiele, F. and Meneveau, N. (2015). Writing a scientific article: a step-by-step guide for beginners, European Geriatric Medicine, 6 (6), 573-579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurger.2015.08.005(In English)
Farnia, M. and Barati, S. (2017). Writing introduction sections of research articles in applied linguistics: cross-linguistics study of native and non-native writers, Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 7 (2), 486-494. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijal.v7i2.8357(In English)
Fedorova, N. (2021). Questioning EAP: a critique of the English for academic purposes courses at university, The Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes, 9 (3), 401-408. https://doi.org/10.22190/JTESAP2103401F(In English)
Fredrickson, K. and Swales, J. (1994). Competition and discourse community: introductions from Nysvenka studier, in Gunnarson, B., Nordberg, B. and Linell, P. (eds.), Text and talk in professional context, De Gruyter, Berlin, Germany, 103-136. (In English)
Grant, A. M. and Pollock, T. G. (2011). Publishing in AMJ - part 3: setting the hook, Academy of Management Journal, 54 (5), 873-879. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2011.4000(In English)
Hirano, E. (2009). Research article introductions in English for specific purposes: a comparison between Brazilian Portuguese and English, English for Specific Purposes, 28, 240-250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2009.02.001(In English)
Hyland, K. (2000). Disciplinary discourse: Social interactions in academic writing, Pearson, Singapore. (In English)
Hyland, K. (2015). Genre, discipline and identity, Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 30, 1-12. (In English)
Kafes, H. (2018). A genre analysis of English and Turkish research article introductions, Novitas-ROYAL (Research on Youth and Language), 12 (1), 66-79. (In English)
Lim, J. M. H. (2012). How do writers establish research niches? A genre-based investigation into management researchers’ rhetorical steps and linguistic mechanisms, Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 11, 229-245. (In English)
Loi, C. K. (2010). Research article introductions in Chinese and English: a comparative genre-based study, Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 9 (4), 267-279. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2010.09.004(In English)
Lorés-Sanz, R. (2016). ELF in the making? Simplification and hybridity in abstract writing, Journal of English as a Lingua Franca, 5 (1), 53-81. (In English)
Manzoor, H., Majeed, A. and Munaf, M. (2020). Genre analysis of civil engineering’s research article introductions, International Journal of English Linguistics, 10 (2), 322-330. https://doi.org/10.5539/ijel.v10n2p322(In English)
Meyerhöffer, N. and Dreesmann, D. C. (2019). The exclusive language of science? Comparing knowledge gains and motivation in English-bilingual biology lessons between non-selected and preselected classes, International Journal of Science Education, 41 (1), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2018.1529446(In English)
Msuya, E. A. (2020). Analysis of writing styles of research article introductions in EFL academic context: a case of University of Dar Es Salaam journal authors, Athens Journal of Philology, 7 (4), 257-272. https://doi.org/10.30958/ajp.7-4-2(In English)
Pakir, A. (2009). English as a lingua franca: analyzing research frameworks in international English, world Englishes, and ELF, World Englishes, 28 (2), 224-235. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-971X.2009.01585.x(In English)
Perez, A. J., Compton, S. M., Green, J. L. and Amin, M. (2020). Recommendations for approaching the introduction section of manuscripts and grant applications, Canadian Journal of Dental Hygiene, 54 (1), 42-44. (In English)
Puebla, M. M. (2008). Analysis of the discussion section of research articles in the field of Psychology, English for Specific Purposes, 5 (21), 1-10. (In English)
Rahimi, S. and Farnia, M. (2017). Comparative generic analysis of introductions of English and Persian dentistry research articles, Research in English Language Pedagogy, 5 (1), 27-40. (In English)
Safnil, S. (2013). A genre-based analysis of the introductions of research articles written by Indonesian academics, TEFLIN Journal, 24 (2), 180-200. http://dx.doi.org/10.15639/teflinjournal.v24i2/180-200(In English)
Samraj, B. (2005). An exploration of a genre set: research articles abstracts and introductions in two disciplines, English for Specific Purposes, 24, 141-156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2002.10.001(In English)
Sheldon, E. (2011). Rhetorical differences in RA introductions written by English L1 and L2 and Castilian Spanish L1 writers, Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 10, 238-251. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2011.08.004(In English)
Shim, E. (2005). Introductions in research papers: genre analysis of academic writing, English Teaching, 60 (4), 399-422. (In English)
Swales, J. M. (1981). Aspects of article introductions, University of Aston, Birmingham, UK. (In English)
Swales, J. M. (1990). Genre analysis: English in academic and research settings, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. (In English)
Swales, J. M. (2004). Research genres: Explorations and application, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. (In English)
Swales, J. M. and Feak, C. B. (2012). Academic writing for graduate students: Essential tasks and skills, 3rd ed., University of Michigan Press. (In English)
Swales, J. and Najjar, H. (1987). The writing of research articles’ introductions, Written Communication, 4 (2), 175-191. (In English)
Tardy, C. (2004). The role of English in scientific communication: lingua franca or tyrannosaurus rex?, Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 3, 247-269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2003.10.001(In English)
Tikhonova, E. V., Kosycheva, M. A. and Golechkova, T. Yu. (2023). Research article discussion moves and steps in papers on medicine: academic literacy and respect for readers, Research Result. Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, 9 (2), 97-128. https://doi.org/10.18413/2313-8912-2023-9-2-0-6(In English)
Zappen, J. P. (1983). A rhetoric for research in sciences and technologies, in Anderson, P. V., Brockman, R. J. and Miller, C. R. (eds.), New essays in scientific and technical communication, Baywood, Farmingdale, NY. (In English)
Zashikhina, I. M. and Pechinkina, O. V. (2022). Format nauchnykh publikatsiy IMRaD dlya sotsial’no-gumanitarnikh issledovaniy: shans byt’ uslishannym [Scientific publications format IMRaD for social and humanities research: A chance to be heard], Vysshee obrazovanie v Rossii = Higher Education in Russia, 31 (10), 150-168. https://doi.org/10.31992/0869-3617-2022-31-10-150-168(In Russian)