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ALLENDE-LACANNA-RODRIGUEZ EVALUATING GLOBAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH PAPERS

Evaluating Global Characteristics of Research Articles

Although academic writing papers share some overall characteristics, every field has its own genre as well as community conventions and requirements. Comparing research articles (RAs) offers an interesting opportunity to explore academic discourse strategies common to diverse fields. This paper aims to explore discursive similarities and differences in two articles belonging to two different fields, that is, educational and medicine ones. The sections analyzed within each paper shall be the introduction, the literature review and the methods sections respectively. The medicine paper belongs to Jrgensen, Zahl and Gtzsche (2010); the educational article has been written by Baralt, Pennestri and Selvandin (2011). Overall, the papers outlines are different, probably due to in-house specific requirements. As far as the introduction in each paper is concerned, Baralt et al. (2011) do not overtly express it, but it has been developed by means of a detailed explanation of what data visualization is as well as what Wordle (2009) means to research and education. Conversely, Jrgensen et al. 's (2010) article seems to have a clear introductory section where the three moves that characterize introductions are clearly established, that is, the writers create the needs to run the research and they also establish the reasons for their present study. As regards the tense choice, both articles use similar tenses to attain similar propositional aims. In the introduction to both articles, the present perfect tense is used to show studies carried out so far. For instance, Baralt et al. (2011) state "Data visualization tools have recently generated increased interest..." (p. 1); and Jrgensen et al. (2010) assert "Comprehensive systematic reviews of randomised trials of mammography screening have estimated..." (p. 1). In short, this practice may be said to have had the desired effect of showing the utmost importance of the problems under study. Following Swales and Feak s (1994) "Creating A Research Space" (C.A.R.S.) model for paper writing examination, three moves should be included in introductions of papers so as to capture readers' attention, and it is sensible to say that both papers successfully create research space by means of reviewing the current state of affairs of their object of study. While Jrgensen et al. (2010) present the effect research has had on prevention and by so doing, acknowledge the importance of carrying out continuous investigation on the subject, Baralt et al. (2011) directly open a new area of inquiry by introducing wordles in the field of EFL teaching. In addition, in Baralt et al. s (2011) paper, there is an expository excerpt within the introduction about Wordle

GLOBAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RPs

(2009), a technological devise examined for use in the class. Conversely, there are no such clarifications in the other paper perhaps due to the chosen topics themselves. While the medicine article acutely reflects its quantitative nature, the educational one clearly shows its qualitative inclination. The former provides specific details concerning percentages and other quantitative information, such as statistical analyses in relation to changes in mortality trends and comparisons between regions and age groups. In the latter, it is explicitly stated from the very beginning that an action research project was carried out, and the qualitative evaluation of the main findings renders itself more philosophical than empirical. The two diverse natures of the articles are reflected throughout the papers but specifically in the methods sections; the article by Jrgensen et al. (2010) openly delimits it after the introduction to the paper, whereas the article by Baralt et al. (2011) does not explicitly state it, although it can be perfectly located in the description of the classroom context and the steps taken during the research project. All in all, once a thorough exploration of both articles has been carried out, it can be concluded that although the two articles belong to completely different fields - the education and medicine ones - they share some general characteristics as far as discourse organization is concerned. Thus, both articles contain an introduction, where the importance of their research is weighed, a relevant literature review section, where the state of the arts with respect to their objects of study is discussed, and an accurately depicted methods section, where the details concerning the context in which their research has been carried out are stated as well as described. In other words, these papers differ mainly in their nature; while Baralt et al.'s (2011) paper offers its audience more qualitative data by means of an action research project, Jrgensen et al.'s (2010) article provides the scientific field with a rigorous study in which exact as well as accurate information is quantitatively explored and thoroughly examined.

GLOBAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RPs

References

Baralt, M., Pennestri, S., & Selvandin, M. (2011) Action research: using wordles to teach foreign language writing. Language Learning and Technology. 15 (2), 12-22. Retrieved April 2013, from http://llt.msu.edu/issues/june2011/actionresearch.pdf Jrgensen, K., Zahl, P-H., & Gtzsche, P. (2010) Breast cancer mortality in organized mammography screening in Denmark: comparative study. BMJ Online First. Retrieved April 2013, from http://www.bmj.com/content/340/bmj.c1241 Swales, J.M., & Feak, C.B. (1994). Academic writing for graduate students: Essential tasks and skills. Ann Harbor, MI: The University of Michigan Press.

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