Cross-disciplinary and cross-linguistic uses of tensed verb phrases in the methods sections of master’s theses

This study examines the distribution and functions of tensed verb phrases in the methods sections of master’s theses produced at Norwegian universities. The material comprises texts written in both English and Norwegian within the disciplines of chemistry, linguistics, and sociology. The method involved manual identification of tensed verb phrases, as well as a more detailed investigation of their rhetorical functions. The findings indicate that there are cross-linguistic and cross-disciplinary differences in both distribution and function, in line with findings from previous studies of student and professional academic writing. These findings have implications for the teaching of academic writing, which should reflect the conventions of the disciplinary communities of which the student writers are aspiring members.