A Comparative Study Of Generic Structure And Criticality Features Of Research Article Introductions In Applied Linguistics And Computer Science

RA introduction is an overall generalization of a research paper, which tends to be brief but able to convey its communicative purpose while critical expressions are the key to realizing the communicative purpose. Therefore, the present study aims to answer how writers construct criticality in RA introductions in a proper and skillful way thus achieving its interpersonal and interactive purposes.In this paper, the author sets up a corpus of 60 RA introductions selected from six international core journals of applied linguistics and computer science with 30 from each side and conducts a comparative study of generic structure and criticality features within moves of RA introductions in these two disciplines. First, Swales and Feak's(2012) Create-A-Research-Space(CARS) model is used to examine the macro-move structure of RA introductions in both disciplines. Second, Hyland's(2005a) stance and engagement model is adopted to explore micro-linguistic features related to critical expressions: the distribution of stance and engagement makers in RA introductions of the two disciplines and the stance and engagement distribution within each move of the two disciplines will be compared. Finally, reasonable explanations are given for the differences of macro-move structure and micro critical expressions in RA introductions of the two disciplines from the perspective of disciplinary cultures.This study mainly answers the following three research questions:1.What are the move patterns of the RA introductions in the field of computer science and applied linguistics? What are disciplinary differences between them?2.What are the disciplinary differences of stance and engagement distribution in each move?3.What may cause the disciplinary differences in RQ 1 and RQ 2?The research findings are presented as follows.1.At the macro level, the move-step structures in both computer science and applied linguistics are basically consistent with Swales and Feak'(2012) CARS model,and move 1(establishing a research territory), move 2(establishing a niche) and move 3(occupying the niche) are all obligatory moves. It is worth noting that within move 2,step1A(indicating a gap in previous research) and step1B(extending previous knowledge in some way) in both disciplines is no longer an either-or strategy, but can be combined together. when Step1 A and step1 B are used together, step 1B probablyfunctions as foregrounding step1 A and provides much more background information related to the current study for readers' further reference and understanding. However,there are disciplinary differences of move patterns mainly in move 3:(1) compared with that in applied linguistics, step 2(listing research questions or hypotheses) in computer science is not common;(2) however, step 5(announcing principle outcomes), step 6(stating the value of the present research) and step 7(outlining the structure of the paper)are more frequently used.2.At the micro level, both disciplines employ a lot of critical expressions. Stance markers in both disciplines are almost four times of engagements markers and hedges,the sub-category of stance markers are the most frequently employed strategies,followed by boosters. Besides, the features of stance and engagement distribution in each move are listed as follows:(1) in general, within all three moves, hedges are more frequently adopted in applied linguistics than in computer science;(2) within move 1,writers in applied linguistics use boosters more frequently while writers in computer science will employ self-mentions and directives more frequently;(3) within move 2,there is no obvious disciplinary distribution difference except hedges are more often used in applied linguistics;(4) within move 3, computer science experts are likely to use self-mentions and boosters more frequently.This study conducts a comparative analysis of macro-move structure and criticality distribution in each move of RA introductions in the field of computer science and applied linguistics. It presents the disciplinary differences of move structure and criticality features of RA introductions of international core journals and it reveals how disciplinary cultures may affect the generic patterns and critical expressions. For one thing, it may enrich genre based teaching theory and evaluation theory. For another, it may help students improve their writing ability and provide teachers with new inspirations and guidance in practical teaching process.