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Article published In:
Revista Española de Lingüística Aplicada/Spanish Journal of Applied Linguistics
Vol. 32:1 (2019) ► pp.356–384

Rhetorical strategies in PhD conclusions of computer science

From the review of the study to consolidation of research space

| Universitat Politècnica de València

This study investigates the predominant moves and move patterns used in the separate final conclusion chapters of 48 PhD theses of computer science at a UK university. The focus is on the most salient connections of steps in the review of the study (Move 1) with steps for the consolidation of research space (Move 2). The most common combinations relate (1) a summary of the thesis work to the product and the evaluation of the product, (2) the purpose, thesis statement or hypothesis to the findings or results, (3) the research questions to the methodology, product or claim, (4) a problem or need to a specific methodology, a new product and/or a claim, and (5) a summary of the work done in each thesis chapter to the findings and claims. Some findings are specific of the field of computer science. The study has pedagogical implications for courses of English for Academic Purposes (EAP).

Keywords: PhD thesis, conclusion, move, step, computer science
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Previous literature
  • 3.Method
    • 3.1The corpus
    • 3.2Analytical procedure
  • 4.Results
    • 4.1Quantitative results
      • 4.1.1Moves, move sequences and cycles of move sequences
      • 4.1.2M1-M2 patterns
      • 4.1.3Connections of steps of M1 with steps of M2
    • 4.2Qualitative description of M1-M2 sequences: The connections of steps of M1 with steps of M2
      • 4.2.1From reviewing the thesis work to presenting and evaluating the product: M1-Step 1/M2- Steps 4 and 11
      • 4.2.2From restating the purpose and the methodology to presenting the findings: M1-Steps 2 and 8/ M2-Step 3
      • 4.2.3From restating the thesis statement and/or research questions to presenting answers to research questions or the claim: M1-Step 2 / M2-Steps 2, 4, or 10
      • 4.2.4From restating the problem/need to presenting and evaluating solutions: M1-Step 7/ M2-Steps 2, 4 and/or 11
      • 4.2.5From summarizing the specific work done in each thesis chapter to presenting findings or making the claim: M1-Step 11/ M2-Steps 3 or 10
    • 4.3Connections of steps of M1 with steps of M2 in M1-M2 cycles
  • 5.Conclusion
  • References
Published online: 24 July 2019
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/resla.16034.sol
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