CONSTRUCTING A RESEARCH ARTICLE (RA) Robert Helán Radomíra Bednářová Language Centre, Masaryk University http://www.acupuncturecouncilofireland.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/research-blog-edited.jpg • • • •WHAT ARE THE CONVENTIONAL SECTIONS •OF A RESEARCH ARTICLE (RA)? ANSWER •THE STANDARD PATTERN IS “TAIMRaD”, i.e. •TITLE •ABSTRACT •INTRODUCTION •METHODS •RESULTS •and •DISCUSSION PURPOSES OF RA SECTIONS • •As the RA in English has developed over the last hundred years or so, the four main sections (IMRD) have become identified with four different purposes. • •What are they? PURPOSES OF INTRODUCTIONS 1. 1.Main purpose: to provide the rationale for the paper (general to specific movement) 2. 2.Secondary purpose: to attract interest in the topic – and hence readers. PURPOSE OF METHODS • • •To describe methodology, materials/subjects, and procedures (very specific) PURPOSE OF RESULTS • • •To describe the findings with commentary (very specific). PURPOSES OF DISCUSSION • • •To interpret the results in a variety of ways •To refer to statements (hypothesis, research questions, etc.) made in the introduction (specific to general movement). RA INTRODUCTIONS •EFFECTIVE INTRODUCTIONS: • •should appropriately situate the work within the existing body of related research (how?) • •should attempt to attract the audience (why?) ANSWER • •Related research should be mentioned VIA CITATIONS • •Introduction should attract the readers so that they continue reading. Thus, researchers / authors win ACCEPTANCE and RECOGNITION of their findings “COMPETITION” METAPHOR FROM ECOLOGY •“Just as plants compete for light and space, so writers of RAs compete for acceptance and recognition.” • •What organizational pattern is, as a rule, employed in introductions to RAs as researchers compete for readers and research space? ANSWER •The rhetorical pattern has become known as the • •CARS model • •What does CARS stand for? MOVE 1: CLAIMING CENTRALITY •In this move, certain fixed phrases or their variants tend to recur. • •1. Can you think of any? • •2. Which tense is typically used? •ANSWER •The present perfect or present simple are often used. • •TYPICAL PHRASES: •…has been extensively studied… •…there has been growing interest in… •Recent studies have focused on… •It is generally accepted that… •A major current focus in microbiology is… MOVE 2: SUMMARIZING RESEARCH •Note that citations can occur anywhere in an introduction… • •What is the role and purpose of citations in academic texts? • • ANSWER •The role and purpose of citations: •Acknowledging the intellectual property rights of earlier authors •Showing respect for previous scholars •Giving your arguments greater authority •Helping (promoting) your friends and colleagues •Showing that you are a member of a particular disciplinary community. SELF-CITATIONS • • •What’s your view on self-citations (citations to an author’s own previously published or presented work)? CITATIONS AND TENSE USAGE • • •Which tenses are typically used in citing statements? ANSWER •There are three patterns: •1. PAST – researcher activity as agent •Huang (2007) investigated the causes of airport delays. •2. PRESENT PERFECT – researcher activity not as agent •The causes of airport delays have been widely investigated (Hyon, 2004; Huang, 2007). •3. PRESENT – no reference to research activity •The causes of airport delays are complex (Hyon, 2004; Huang, 2007) MOVE 3: ESTABLISHING THE GAP •OPTIONS (from stronger to weaker claims): • 1.Something is wrong (COUNTER-CLAIMING) 2.Something is missing (INDICATING A GAP) 3.Something is unclear (RAISING A QUESTION) 4.Adding something (CONTINUING A TRADITION) LANGUAGE TO INDICATE A GAP • • •What language is typically used to indicate a gap/problem/criticism? ANSWER •NON-COUNT: •However, little information… •Little attention has been paid to… • •COUNT: •However, few studies… •Few investigations have been carried out… WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? • •Explain the difference between 1.There is little research… 2.There is a little research… 3.Few investigations… 4.A few investigations… MOVE 4: PRESENTING WORK •PURPOSIVE: authors indicate their main purpose or purposes. •The aim of the present paper is to give… • •DESCRIPTIVE: authors describe the main feature of their research •In this paper we give preliminary results for… • Think about how to best link the introduction with the conclusion.