Perspectives on the Introductory Phase of Empirical Research Articles: A Study of Rhetorical Structure and Citation Use (Corpora and Intercultural Studies Book 5)

Combining English for Specific Purposes (ESP) genre-based analysis, corpus-based language studies, and semi-structured interviews, this book represents the first multi-faceted project on the macro-structure of empirical research articles (ERAs) from both synchronic and diachronic perspectives, and on the “I+LR” patterned introductory phase (comprising two introductory sections, i.e., the __Introduction__ and the __Literature Review__ in RAs drawn from civil engineering and applied linguistics journals) regarding their rhetorical organization, use of citation, and structural and functional links and variations. The project comprises three logically interconnected studies using a multi-perspective (the cross-disciplinary, cross-generic, emic, and published advice vs. actual expert practices perspectives) approach. It will make a significant contribution to our understanding of the genre evolution, rhetorical organization and citation features of ERAs, enrich English for Academic Purposes (EAP) theories, and facilitate the development of EAP pedagogy and materials. Acknowledgements 7 Contents 8 Abbreviations 13 1 Introduction 15 1.1 Background to the Study 15 1.2 The Scope and Objective of the Study 20 1.3 Organization of This Book 21 References 22 2 Genre Structure and Citation 25 2.1 Genre 25 2.1.1 Definitions of Genre 26 2.1.2 Approaches to Genre 28 2.1.3 Relevant Terminology 30 2.2 Research Articles (RAs) as a Genre 33 2.2.1 Categories of RAs 34 2.2.2 Textual Overview of Empirical Research Articles (ERAs) 35 2.3 Introductions in RAs 42 2.3.1 Definitions of Introductions 42 2.3.2 Functions of Introductions 43 2.3.3 Genre Analysis of Introductions 43 2.4 Other Introductory Parts in RAs 63 2.4.1 Literature Reviews (LRs) 63 2.5 Citation Use in Academic Discourse 71 2.5.1 Citation Forms 71 2.5.2 Reporting Verbs 77 2.5.3 Citation Functions 84 2.5.4 Previous Research into Citation Practices 90 2.6 Summary 102 References 104 3 Research Design and Methods 115 3.1 Overview of the Research Design 115 3.2 Lead-in Study 1: Cross-Sectional Analyses of ERA Macro-structure in 39 Disciplines 116 3.2.1 Data Collection 117 3.2.2 Data Analysis 117 3.3 Lead-in Study 2: Diachronic Studies of ERA Macro-structural Development in Two Contrasting Disciplines 119 3.3.1 ERAs Selected 120 3.3.2 Macro-structural Analysis of ERAs 120 3.4 The Focused Study of the Introductory Phase 121 3.4.1 Analysis of Structural and Citation Practices in the Introductory Phase 122 3.4.2 Interviews with Experienced Research Writers 146 3.5 Summary 148 References 149 4 Lead-in Study 1: The Macro-structure of Contemporary ERAs 153 4.1 Introduction 153 4.2 The Major Structural Patterns of ERAs 154 4.3 The Major Sections of ERAs 155 4.4 The Relationship Between Introduction and LR 158 4.5 The Relationship Between Results, Discussion and Conclusion 160 4.6 Disciplinary Variations in ERAs 161 4.7 Summary 162 References 164 5 Lead-in Study 2: The ERA Macro-structural Development in Civil Engineering (CE) and Applied Linguistics (AL) 165 5.1 Introduction 165 5.2 The Status of IMRD 166 5.3 Development in the Macro-structure of ERAs 168 5.4 Development in Structural Forms of the Introductory Part 172 5.5 Summary 176 References 177 6 Rhetorical Structure of the Introductory Part 179 6.1 Introduction 179 6.2 The Introduction Section 179 6.2.1 Rhetorical Structure of CE Introductions 180 6.2.2 Rhetorical Structure of AL Introductions 191 6.2.3 Comparison of the Introductions in CE and AL 200 6.3 The Literature Review Section 201 6.3.1 The General Organization and Functional Components of Literature Reviews 202 6.3.2 Rhetorical Structure of the Theoretical Review Component 204 6.4 Comparison and the Interrelationship Between Introductions and Literature Reviews 222 6.5 Summary 224 References 226 7 Citation Use in the Introductory Part 228 7.1 Introduction 228 7.2 Citation Density 228 7.3 Citation Types 230 7.3.1 Citation Forms 230 7.3.2 Citation Functions 234 7.4 Reporting Verbs (RVs) 239 7.4.1 Distribution of RVs in Introductions and LRs in AL and CE 239 7.4.2 Different Types of RVs Used in the Two Part-Genres in AL and CE 242 7.5 Summary 246 References 249 8 Conclusion 251 8.1 Introduction 251 8.2 Summary and Discussion of Findings 251 8.2.1 Research Questions 251 8.2.2 The Macro-structure and Major Sections of ERAs (Question 1) 252 8.2.3 The Macro-structural Development of ERAs in CE and AL (Question 2) 253 8.2.4 The Rhetorical Structure of the Introduction and LR Sections (Question 3) 255 8.2.5 Citation Use in the Introduction and LR Sections (Question 3) 260 8.2.6 The Interviews (Question 4) 263 8.3 Contributions and Implications 265 8.4 Limitations of the Present Study 268 8.5 Recommendations for Further Research 269 References 270 Distribution of ERAs and Major Structural Patterns in the 39 Disciplines 273 A List of Source ERAs 276 CCEI28 as an Example of the Analysis of Two-Move Orientation Introductions in CE 281 CALI9 as an Example of the Analysis of Two-Move Orientation Introductions in AL 283 CALL20 as an Example LR Text Containing Both “Theoretical Review” and “Contextual Background” Components 285 CCELTR3 as an Example of the Analysis of Theoretical Reviews in CE 290 CALL19 as an LR Example with Its Theme-Bound Subsections Having Different Nature, Propositional Content and Functional Contribution to It 292 The Working Guide for RV Classification and Analysis 295 Interview Guide 296 CCEI2 as an Example of Practical-Problem Solving Introductions that Follow Feak and Swales's (2011) Structural Model for “Problem-Focused” Introductions 297 CCEI7 as an Example of Practical-Problem Solving Introductions Involving Both the “Comparison” Move and the “Research-Gap Indication” Element 299 CALLTR24 as an Example of the Analysis of Theoretical Reviews Containing Multi-thematic Sub-Sections in AL 301 Bibliography 305 Combining English for Specific Purposes (ESP) genre-based analysis, corpus-based language studies, and semi-structured interviews, this book represents the first multi-faceted project on the macro-structure of empirical research articles (ERAs) from both synchronic and diachronic perspectives, and on the "I+LR" patterned introductory phase (comprising two introductory sections, i.e., the Introduction and the Literature Review in RAs drawn from civil engineering (CE) and applied linguistics (AL) journals) regarding their rhetorical organization, use of citation, and structural and functional links and variations. The project comprises three logically interconnected studies using a multi-perspective (the cross-disciplinary, cross-generic, emic, and published advice vs. actual expert practices perspectives) approach. It will make a significant contribution to our understanding of the genre evolution, rhetorical organization and citation features of ERAs, enrich English for Academic Purposes (EAP) theories, and facilitate the development of EAP pedagogy and materials Combining English for Specific Purposes (ESP) genre-based analysis, corpus-based language studies, and semi-structured interviews, this book represents the first multi-faceted project on the macro-structure of empirical research articles (ERAs) from both synchronic and diachronic perspectives, and on the “I LR” patterned introductory phase (comprising two introductory sections, i.e., the Introduction and the Literature Review in RAs drawn from civil engineering and applied linguistics journals) regarding their rhetorical organization, use of citation, and structural and functional links and variations. The project comprises three logically interconnected studies using a multi-perspective (the cross-disciplinary, cross-generic, emic, and published advice vs. actual expert practices perspectives) approach. It will make a significant contribution to our understanding of the genre evolution, rhetorical organization and citation features of ERAs, enrich English for Academic Purposes (EAP) theories, and facilitate the development of EAP pedagogy and materials. Front Matter ....Pages i-xvi Introduction ((Kathy) Ling Lin)....Pages 1-10 Genre Structure and Citation ((Kathy) Ling Lin)....Pages 11-100 Research Design and Methods ((Kathy) Ling Lin)....Pages 101-138 Lead-in Study 1: The Macro-structure of Contemporary ERAs ((Kathy) Ling Lin)....Pages 139-150 Lead-in Study 2: The ERA Macro-structural Development in Civil Engineering (CE) and Applied Linguistics (AL) ((Kathy) Ling Lin)....Pages 151-164 Rhetorical Structure of the Introductory Part ((Kathy) Ling Lin)....Pages 165-213 Citation Use in the Introductory Part ((Kathy) Ling Lin)....Pages 215-237 Conclusion ((Kathy) Ling Lin)....Pages 239-260 Back Matter ....Pages 261-301