Modeling Claim - Evidence - Stance link in the Discussion Section of Research Genres: A Comparative Case Study of Expert and Student Writers in Applied Linguistics

Meiling Wang; Liming Deng

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijalt.20230901.11

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Modeling Claim - Evidence - Stance link in the Discussion Section of Research Genres: A Comparative Case Study of Expert and Student Writers in Applied Linguistics

Meiling Wang, Liming Deng

Published in International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation (Volume 9, Issue 1)

Received: 5 January 2023 Accepted: 25 January 2023 Published: 4 February 2023

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Abstract

The previous genre-based studies have emphasized the rhetorical organization of the discussion section in research articles or thesis writing. The present study extends this trend by exploring the argumentative structure and its link to stance-taking features in the discussion part-genre written by both expert and student writers. Two corpora were compiled, including discussion samples taken from published research articles and those chosen from Master’s theses in applied linguistics. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted to identify any differences and similarities between the two groups of writers in terms of their organization of argumentative structure and the stance-taking manner. The results demonstrated that expert and student writers significantly differ in the manipulation of supporting evidence albeit their similar tendency to craft claim-evidence link. The significant differences were particularly found in the realization of interpretive arguments, with student writers employing more use of reason-result pattern whereas established writers presenting the higher occurrence of concessive clauses to reinforce the strength of arguments. Besides, the study also revealed that student writers tend to favor more numerical data while expert writers show greater preferences for generalized evidential and research evaluation to seek support for knowledge claims. Furthermore, the analysis of stance markers highlighted that stance-taking devices are inextricably interwoven with the claim-evidence link, with hedges and self-mentions predominantly serving for the interpretive evidence, attitude markers for both evidential and evaluative labels, and boosters for claim sets and factual evidence. Statistically significant differences between two corpora were also observed across the allocation of stance markers in relation to argumentative structures. The findings of the study have both theoretical and pedagogical implications for EAP writing instruction and learning needs.

Published in	International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation (Volume 9, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijalt.20230901.11
Page(s)	1-11
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Argumentative Patterns, Stance Markers, Discussion Section, Corpus-Based Analysis

References

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APA Style

Meiling Wang, Liming Deng. (2023). Modeling Claim - Evidence - Stance link in the Discussion Section of Research Genres: A Comparative Case Study of Expert and Student Writers in Applied Linguistics. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation, 9(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20230901.11

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ACS Style

Meiling Wang; Liming Deng. Modeling Claim - Evidence - Stance link in the Discussion Section of Research Genres: A Comparative Case Study of Expert and Student Writers in Applied Linguistics. Int. J. Appl. Linguist. Transl. 2023, 9(1), 1-11. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20230901.11

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AMA Style

Meiling Wang, Liming Deng. Modeling Claim - Evidence - Stance link in the Discussion Section of Research Genres: A Comparative Case Study of Expert and Student Writers in Applied Linguistics. Int J Appl Linguist Transl. 2023;9(1):1-11. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20230901.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijalt.20230901.11,
  author = {Meiling Wang and Liming Deng},
  title = {Modeling Claim - Evidence - Stance link in the Discussion Section of Research Genres: A Comparative Case Study of Expert and Student Writers in Applied Linguistics},
  journal = {International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation},
  volume = {9},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-11},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijalt.20230901.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20230901.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijalt.20230901.11},
  abstract = {The previous genre-based studies have emphasized the rhetorical organization of the discussion section in research articles or thesis writing. The present study extends this trend by exploring the argumentative structure and its link to stance-taking features in the discussion part-genre written by both expert and student writers. Two corpora were compiled, including discussion samples taken from published research articles and those chosen from Master’s theses in applied linguistics. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted to identify any differences and similarities between the two groups of writers in terms of their organization of argumentative structure and the stance-taking manner. The results demonstrated that expert and student writers significantly differ in the manipulation of supporting evidence albeit their similar tendency to craft claim-evidence link. The significant differences were particularly found in the realization of interpretive arguments, with student writers employing more use of reason-result pattern whereas established writers presenting the higher occurrence of concessive clauses to reinforce the strength of arguments. Besides, the study also revealed that student writers tend to favor more numerical data while expert writers show greater preferences for generalized evidential and research evaluation to seek support for knowledge claims. Furthermore, the analysis of stance markers highlighted that stance-taking devices are inextricably interwoven with the claim-evidence link, with hedges and self-mentions predominantly serving for the interpretive evidence, attitude markers for both evidential and evaluative labels, and boosters for claim sets and factual evidence. Statistically significant differences between two corpora were also observed across the allocation of stance markers in relation to argumentative structures. The findings of the study have both theoretical and pedagogical implications for EAP writing instruction and learning needs.},
 year = {2023}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Modeling Claim - Evidence - Stance link in the Discussion Section of Research Genres: A Comparative Case Study of Expert and Student Writers in Applied Linguistics
AU  - Meiling Wang
AU  - Liming Deng
Y1  - 2023/02/04
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20230901.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijalt.20230901.11
T2  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
JF  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
JO  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
SP  - 1
EP  - 11
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2472-1271
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20230901.11
AB  - The previous genre-based studies have emphasized the rhetorical organization of the discussion section in research articles or thesis writing. The present study extends this trend by exploring the argumentative structure and its link to stance-taking features in the discussion part-genre written by both expert and student writers. Two corpora were compiled, including discussion samples taken from published research articles and those chosen from Master’s theses in applied linguistics. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted to identify any differences and similarities between the two groups of writers in terms of their organization of argumentative structure and the stance-taking manner. The results demonstrated that expert and student writers significantly differ in the manipulation of supporting evidence albeit their similar tendency to craft claim-evidence link. The significant differences were particularly found in the realization of interpretive arguments, with student writers employing more use of reason-result pattern whereas established writers presenting the higher occurrence of concessive clauses to reinforce the strength of arguments. Besides, the study also revealed that student writers tend to favor more numerical data while expert writers show greater preferences for generalized evidential and research evaluation to seek support for knowledge claims. Furthermore, the analysis of stance markers highlighted that stance-taking devices are inextricably interwoven with the claim-evidence link, with hedges and self-mentions predominantly serving for the interpretive evidence, attitude markers for both evidential and evaluative labels, and boosters for claim sets and factual evidence. Statistically significant differences between two corpora were also observed across the allocation of stance markers in relation to argumentative structures. The findings of the study have both theoretical and pedagogical implications for EAP writing instruction and learning needs.
VL  - 9
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Meiling Wang

Research Institute of Foreign Languages, College of Foreign Languages and Literature, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
Liming Deng

Research Institute of Foreign Languages, College of Foreign Languages and Literature, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China

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Meiling Wang, Liming Deng. (2023). Modeling Claim - Evidence - Stance link in the Discussion Section of Research Genres: A Comparative Case Study of Expert and Student Writers in Applied Linguistics. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation, 9(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20230901.11

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ACS Style

Meiling Wang; Liming Deng. Modeling Claim - Evidence - Stance link in the Discussion Section of Research Genres: A Comparative Case Study of Expert and Student Writers in Applied Linguistics. Int. J. Appl. Linguist. Transl. 2023, 9(1), 1-11. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20230901.11

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AMA Style

Meiling Wang, Liming Deng. Modeling Claim - Evidence - Stance link in the Discussion Section of Research Genres: A Comparative Case Study of Expert and Student Writers in Applied Linguistics. Int J Appl Linguist Transl. 2023;9(1):1-11. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20230901.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijalt.20230901.11,
  author = {Meiling Wang and Liming Deng},
  title = {Modeling Claim - Evidence - Stance link in the Discussion Section of Research Genres: A Comparative Case Study of Expert and Student Writers in Applied Linguistics},
  journal = {International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation},
  volume = {9},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-11},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijalt.20230901.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20230901.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijalt.20230901.11},
  abstract = {The previous genre-based studies have emphasized the rhetorical organization of the discussion section in research articles or thesis writing. The present study extends this trend by exploring the argumentative structure and its link to stance-taking features in the discussion part-genre written by both expert and student writers. Two corpora were compiled, including discussion samples taken from published research articles and those chosen from Master’s theses in applied linguistics. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted to identify any differences and similarities between the two groups of writers in terms of their organization of argumentative structure and the stance-taking manner. The results demonstrated that expert and student writers significantly differ in the manipulation of supporting evidence albeit their similar tendency to craft claim-evidence link. The significant differences were particularly found in the realization of interpretive arguments, with student writers employing more use of reason-result pattern whereas established writers presenting the higher occurrence of concessive clauses to reinforce the strength of arguments. Besides, the study also revealed that student writers tend to favor more numerical data while expert writers show greater preferences for generalized evidential and research evaluation to seek support for knowledge claims. Furthermore, the analysis of stance markers highlighted that stance-taking devices are inextricably interwoven with the claim-evidence link, with hedges and self-mentions predominantly serving for the interpretive evidence, attitude markers for both evidential and evaluative labels, and boosters for claim sets and factual evidence. Statistically significant differences between two corpora were also observed across the allocation of stance markers in relation to argumentative structures. The findings of the study have both theoretical and pedagogical implications for EAP writing instruction and learning needs.},
 year = {2023}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Modeling Claim - Evidence - Stance link in the Discussion Section of Research Genres: A Comparative Case Study of Expert and Student Writers in Applied Linguistics
AU  - Meiling Wang
AU  - Liming Deng
Y1  - 2023/02/04
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20230901.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijalt.20230901.11
T2  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
JF  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
JO  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
SP  - 1
EP  - 11
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2472-1271
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20230901.11
AB  - The previous genre-based studies have emphasized the rhetorical organization of the discussion section in research articles or thesis writing. The present study extends this trend by exploring the argumentative structure and its link to stance-taking features in the discussion part-genre written by both expert and student writers. Two corpora were compiled, including discussion samples taken from published research articles and those chosen from Master’s theses in applied linguistics. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted to identify any differences and similarities between the two groups of writers in terms of their organization of argumentative structure and the stance-taking manner. The results demonstrated that expert and student writers significantly differ in the manipulation of supporting evidence albeit their similar tendency to craft claim-evidence link. The significant differences were particularly found in the realization of interpretive arguments, with student writers employing more use of reason-result pattern whereas established writers presenting the higher occurrence of concessive clauses to reinforce the strength of arguments. Besides, the study also revealed that student writers tend to favor more numerical data while expert writers show greater preferences for generalized evidential and research evaluation to seek support for knowledge claims. Furthermore, the analysis of stance markers highlighted that stance-taking devices are inextricably interwoven with the claim-evidence link, with hedges and self-mentions predominantly serving for the interpretive evidence, attitude markers for both evidential and evaluative labels, and boosters for claim sets and factual evidence. Statistically significant differences between two corpora were also observed across the allocation of stance markers in relation to argumentative structures. The findings of the study have both theoretical and pedagogical implications for EAP writing instruction and learning needs.
VL  - 9
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download