Three Rhetorical Moves in "Introduction"
There are three key moves in "Introduction" according to Swales (1990;
2004). Each move has its own rhetorical function. The steps
a writer can take to fulfill each move are listed below.
Learning Objectives & Strategies:
Understand the concept of the 3 rhetorical moves.
1. Pay attention to the steps each move does. Imagine what you XXmight do applying these steps.
2. When ready, look at examples by following the link for each XXmove. |
(1) Move 1:
Establish a territory [citations required] VIA
XXXStep 1. Topic generalizations of increasing specificity
XXXXWhere: Usually in the first few paragraphs in an introduction
(2) Move 2:
Establish a niche VIA
XXXStep 1A. Indicating a gap OR
XXXXStep 1B. Adding to what is
known;
XXXXStep 2. [optional] Presenting positive
justification
XXXWhere: Usually in the middle paragraphs in an introduction
(3) Move 3: Present
the present work [citations possible] VIA
XXXStep 1. Aannouncing present
research descriptively and/or purposively
XXXXStep 2. [optional] presenting RQs or hypotheses
XXXXStep 3. [optional] definitional clarifications
XXXXStep 4. [optional] summarizing methods
XXXXStep 5. [optional] announcing principal outcomes
XXXXStep 6. [optional] stating the value of the present research
XXXXS7. [optional] outlining the structure of the paper
XXXXWhere: Usually in the final few paragraphs in an introduction |