We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Genre Analysis of Generic Section Headings of MPhil Theses' Introduction Section of Linguistics and Literature.
- Authors
Shehzad, Wasima; Abbas, Akhtar
- Abstract
Exploring academic discourse has become a phenomenal enterprise of discourse analysts (Hyland, 2008 & Wennerstrom, 2006) in general and genre analysts (Shehzad, 2010, 2011; Swales, 1990, 2004, 2012) in particular. Genre analysis of academic genres has not only been contributing to the existing knowledge of genre studies but its augmentation in traditions of English for academic purposes, English for specific purposes, and English for research purposes is a significant addition in (non)Anglophone traditions of English language pedagogies. The current study replicates the tradition in Pakistan by doing genre analysis of section headings of introductory chapters of MPhil theses of Linguistics and Literature. In addition to contributing to the existing body of genre studies, this study would be a significant guide for the novice researchers in Pakistan. Considering its wider applicability in (non)Anglophone traditions and dynamic nature of rhetoric, CARS model of Swales (2004) was applied on the section headings of twenty introductory chapters of the MPhil theses. Variation in length, occurrence of the headings, and relevance of the headings with the text followed was focus of the investigation. It was found that the average length observed was, surprisingly, contrary to the opinion of the experts interviewed who believed in shorter length ranging from 8 to 10 pages. Regarding occurrence of section headings, at micro level analysis, no convention of consistency was observed. Moreover, deviations from CARS model were observed in statement of the problem, methodology, objectives of study, and research questions/hypotheses which raise serious questions on pedagogical implications of the academic writing practice. The findings suggest that teaching genre knowledge to the thesis writers in particular and academic writers in general has the potential to resolve the issues of academic writing for research purposes in Pakistan.
- Subjects
FORM headings; THESIS statements (Rhetoric); ACADEMIC discourse; ENGLISH language; LINGUISTICS; LITERATURE
- Publication
NUML Journal of Critical Inquiry, 2016, Vol 14, Issue 1, p67
- ISSN
2222-5706
- Publication type
Article