RESEARCH ARTICLE DISCUSSION MOVES AND STEPS IN PAPERS ON MEDICINE: ACADEMIC LITERACY AND RESPECT FOR READERS

Research Result. Theoretical and Applied Linguistics. 2023. Vol. 9. No. 2. P. 97–128.

Elena V. Tikhonova, Marina A. Kosycheva, Tatiana Yu. Golechkova

Discussion section of a research article (RA) is an essential part of a paper where findings are interpreted and built into a broader context. This study looks at a corpus of 64 discussion sections from medical RAs. Using move analysis we examine texts produced by four groups of writers: (1) native English speakers (n=16), (2) non-native English speakers using English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) to communicate their research (n=16), (3) Russian authors employing ELF to communicate research in international journals (n=16), and (4) Russian authors publishing in ELF with Russian journals listed in international databases (n=16). In line with the Al-Shujairi et al.'s (2019) model of the Discussion section of medical RA, we identified nine moves. Three of these moves include steps, implying a more structured and detailed approach. Furthermore, an additional third step (Strengths) is identified in Move 7 in our corpus, indicating a preference among authors to further highlight effectiveness of their arguments. This study describes discrepancies between Russian authors’ approach to writing a Discussion section and the conventional rhetorical structure of medical articles. For scientific writing to integrate into English-medium scholarly community, it is imperative that authors rely on accepted rhetorical moves and steps. This way academic English functions as a lingua franca, ensuring effective global academic communication. [Ссылка на источник: Tikhonova, E. V., Kosycheva, M. A. and Golechkova, T. Yu. (2023). Research article discussion moves and steps in papers on medicine: academic literacy and respect for readers, Research Result. Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, 9 (2), 97-128. DOI: 10.18413/2313-8912-2023-9-2-0-6, URL: http://rrlinguistics.ru/en/journal/annotation/3139/].

Keywords: academic literacy, research articles, disciplinary variation, ACADEMIC LINGUA FRANCA, DISCUSSION SECTION, COMMUNICATIVE MOVES, COMMUNICATIVE STEPS