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Article published In: English Text Construction
Vol. 17:2 (2024) ► pp.166–207

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Evaluative stance in academic arguments

A study of that-structures in applied linguistics research article introductions

ORCiD logo with link | Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz
ORCiD logo with link | Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz
Published online: 16 October 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/etc.23007.abb
Abstract
This study explores the possible interplay between the rhetorical functions of the introduction section in applied linguistics research articles and the linguistic structuring of its argument through the use of that-clause that expresses evaluative meanings. To this end, article introductions were analyzed in terms of the formal/functional coding of that-clauses. The findings highlight that complement clauses are frequently used for the epistemic evaluation of current/previous research. Of note, however, is that nuanced differences in the writers’ intended purposes give rise to variations in the use of that-clause parameters, particularly those concerning verbal entities that evaluate the author’s claims, as opposed to those reviewing previous research findings and/or attributing an evaluation to distinct sources. The study concludes that tactful structuring of academic arguments hinges on the skilled exploitation of function-dependent variations associated with the evaluative components of that-clauses.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1Evaluative that-clause construction
  • 2.Method
    • 2.1Journal selection
    • 2.2RA selection
    • 2.3Analytical framework
    • 2.4Procedure
  • 3.Results
    • 3.1Evaluative parameters of that-structures
      • 3.1.1The evaluated entity
      • 3.1.2Evaluative stance
      • 3.1.3Evaluative source
      • 3.1.4Evaluative expressions
    • 3.2Functional configuration of that-clauses in the argument structure
      • 3.2.1Evaluation of previous studies
      • 3.2.2Author’s claim
  • 4.Discussion
    • 4.1Strategic structuring of arguments through a chain of evaluated entities
    • 4.2Attuning arguments to rhetorical purposes through the use of stance
    • 4.3Evaluative sources
    • 4.4Variations in utilizing evaluative terms
  • 5.Conclusion
  • 6.Limitations of the study and directions for further research
  • References
References (71)
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