Move Analysis of Chemical Biology Research Article Introductions
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Abstract
Writing research articles is an important and demanding task for members of academia, and the introduction is generally considered the most difficult portion to write (Swales, 1990). Move analysis has proven useful in studying the communicative functions of introductions and other sections of research articles, and is thus beneficial in training novice academic authors. Few studies have included a move analysis on the introduction of research articles in the emerging field of chemical biology. In this study, we conducted a move analysis on 10 research article introductions from a prestigious chemical biology journal to identify their rhetorical structure. The results reveal that all introductions analysed consist of three conventional moves — Move 1: Introducing the research area; Move 2: Pointing out the need(s); and Move 3: Presenting the current research, arranged in two common patterns — Pattern A: (Move 1>Move 2)n>Move 3; and Pattern B: (Move 1>Move 2)n>Move 1>Move 3, where n = a counting number. Insights on the general move patterns as well as variations in submoves frequency from research article introductions from the neighbouring disciplines are helpful to novice chemical biologists in writing successful introductions as well as ESP teachers, especially those who teach these scientists writing for publication.
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