Organizing Your Research Article Introductions: The C.A.R.S. Model
On Monday, February 13, 2017, Hassan Costello and Professor Habib Abdesslem spearheaded an engaging seminar titled, "Introductions in Locally Published Research Articles in Linguistics: Towards a Syntagmatics of Moves," orchestrated by the Language Research Center of the Faculty of Languages and Translation.
The seminar delved into a comparative exploration of the trajectories of traditional grammar and Swales' rhetorical model for research paper introductions. The presenters argued that both core grammatical rules and core rhetorical patterns have evolved from descriptive origins to prescriptive standards. Nevertheless, studying language use in varying contexts can reinforce these core rules and patterns without impeding the inevitable ebb and flow of linguistic change.
The presentation harnessed Swales' Create-a-Research-Space-Model (CARS) to delineate the rhetorical blueprints of research article introductions in linguistics, specifically from two Saudi Arabian university journals. Providing visual models of Move sequences in core and extended Move patterns, the seminar encouraged writers to adopt the sequence Swales presents in his CARS model.
The subsequent Q&A session, with participants from King Abdullah Road Campus joining via teleconference, was a lively and interactive experience, enabling participants to question the presenters and build on the presented ideas. It is noteworthy to mention the valuable contributions of Dr. Abdulkhaleq Al Qahtani, Vice Dean of Higher Studies, who provided insightful recommendations for further research, drawing from his Doctoral Dissertation at Oklahoma State University.
The seminar leaders express their deep appreciation to Dr. Abdullah Al-Melhi, Dean, and Dr. Ismail Alrefaai, Director of the Language Research Center & MA Programs Coordinator, for their steadfast support and motivation.
Queries regarding this specific seminar can be sent to habdessalem@kku.edu.sa or hscostello@kku.edu.sa. The outcomes of this study will soon be published in the Arab Journal of Applied Linguistics (AJAL).
