A Generic Patterns in Discussion Sections: A Corpus-Based Analysis of Academic Moves Structures in Dissertations in Pakistan

Abstract

Writing discussion in dissertation, though has textual generics, yet is influenced by the context, research domain, and writers’ linguistic competence. In Pakistan, graduates, despite being non-native English writers, know about the generics of writing discussion; yet, their mother tongue and cultural context influence their writing. In order to compare and contrast the generics of writing discussion, and identify the commonalities and variation; this research aims to explore the academic move-structures in the discussion sections. By adopting Corpus-based research tools corpora of M.Phil. and Ph.D. dissertations from the field of English Linguistics and Education were compiled. Based on Yang and Allison (2003) model the data was analyzed through Antmover (text structure analyzer software). Different types of moves in discussion section, such as obligatory, conventional, and optional moves, were analyzed in accordance with the strategies of Kanoksilapatham (2005). The commonalities and contrast in the moves of writing discussion has enabled the researcher in identifying 5-moves generic pattern that can serve as a guideline for novice researchers in writing discussion of the dissertations in the fields of English Linguistics and Education in Pakistan. Furthermore, paying attention to the ways in which these disciplines use specific structural moves would facilitate researchers to become more aware of the need for employing these structural moves in properly discussing the data and results in research.