Cover not available

In:Advances in Corpus-based Research on Academic Writing: Effects of discipline, register, and writer expertise
Edited by Ute Römer-Barron, Viviana Cortes and Eric Friginal
[Studies in Corpus Linguistics 95] 2020
► pp. 281–306

Get fulltext from our e-platform
JBE logo with link
PDF logo with download linkDownload Book PDF
EPUB logo with download linkDownload Book EPUB
authorization required

P-frames and rhetorical moves in applied linguistics conference abstracts

 | The Pennsylvania State University
 | The Pennsylvania State University
Published online: 20 February 2020
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/scl.95.12yoo
Abstract
This chapter examines the use of formulaic phrase frames (p-frames) in the rhetorical construction of Applied Linguistics Conference Abstracts (CAs). We consider both the distribution of p-frames across rhetorical moves/steps and the strength of the association of p-frames with individual moves/steps in 625 accepted AAAL 2017 CAs, all freely available on the organization’s website. We manually tagged the corpus for rhetorical moves/steps and identified p-frames of 5 and 6 words (29 per million threshold) using kfNgram (Fletcher 2012). Results highlight that p-frames play a prominent role in the realization of CA writers’ rhetorical goals both in the prevalence of p-frame use (roughly 1.7 instances per text in our data) and in the close relationship that many p-frames exhibit with particular rhetorical functions.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Methodology
    • 2.1Corpus
    • 2.2Procedures
      • 2.2.1Rhetorical move analysis
      • 2.2.2Identification of p-frames
      • 2.2.3Mapping p-frames to rhetorical moves
  • 3.Results
    • 3.1The distribution of p-frames across the rhetorical move-steps
    • 3.2The association of p-frames with individual rhetorical moves/steps
  • 4.Summary and conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
  • Appendix
References (30)
References
Anthony, Laurence. 2019. AntConc (Version 3.5.8) [Computer Software]. Tokyo: Waseda University. <[URL]> (20 February 2019).
Biber, Douglas. 2009. A corpus-driven approach to formulaic language in English. International Journal of Corpus Linguistics 14: 275–311. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Charles, Maggie. 2011. Using hands-on concordancing to teach rhetorical functions: Evaluation and implications for EAP writing classes. In New Trends in Corpora and Language Learning, Ana Frankenberg-Garcia, Lynne Flowerdew & Guy Aston (eds), 26–43. London: Continuum.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cortes, Viviana. 2013. The purpose of this study is to: Connecting lexical bundles and moves in research article introductions. Journal of English for Academic Purposes 12: 33–43. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cotos, Elena, Huffman, Sarah & Link, Stephanie. 2017. A move/step model for methods sections: Demonstrating rigour and credibility. English for Specific Purposes 46: 90–106. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cunningham, Kelly J. 2017. A phraseological exploration of recent mathematics research articles through key phrase frames. Journal of English for Academic Purposes 25: 71–83. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cutting, Joan. 2012. Vague language in conference abstracts. Journal of English for Academic Purposes 11: 283–293. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Durrant, Philip & Mathews-Aydınlı, Julie. 2011. A function-first approach to identifying formulaic language in academic writing. English for Specific Purposes 30: 58–72. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Fletcher, William H. 2011. Phrases in English Home. <[URL]> (27 June 2011).
2012. KfNgram. Annapolis MD: USNA.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Flowerdew, Lynne. 2005. An integration of corpus-based and genre-based approaches to text analysis in EAP/ESP: Countering criticisms against corpus-based methodologies. English for Specific purposes 24: 321–332. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2012. Corpora and Language Education. Houndmills: Palgrave MacMillan. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Gray, Bethany & Biber, Douglas. 2013. Lexical frames in academic prose and conversation. International Journal of Corpus Linguistics 18(1): 109–136. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Halleck, Gene B. & Connor, Ulla M. 2006. Rhetorical moves in TESOL conference proposals. Journal of English for Academic Purposes 5: 70–86. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hyland, K. 2004. Disciplinary Discourses: Social Interactions in Academic Writing. Ann Arbor MI: University of Michigan Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Johns, Tim. 1991. Should you be persuaded: Two examples of data-driven learning. ELR Journal 4: 1–16.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Le, Thi Ngoc Phuong & Harrington, Michael. 2015. Phraseology used to comment on results in the discussion section of applied linguistics quantitative research articles. English for Specific Purposes 39: 45–61. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lu, Xiaofei, Yoon, Jungwan & Kisselev, Olesya. 2018. A phrase-frame list for social science research article introductions. Journal of English for Academic Purposes 36: 76–85. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Moreno, Ana I. & Swales, John M. 2018. Strengthening move analysis methodology towards bridging the function-form gap. English for Specific Purposes 50: 40–63. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
O’Donnell, Matthew B., Römer, Ute & Ellis, Nick C. 2013. The development of formulaic sequences in first and second language writing. International Journal of Corpus Linguistics 18(1): 83–108. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Omidian, Taha, Shahriari, Hesamoddin & Siyanova-Chanturia, Anna. 2018. A cross-disciplinary investigation of multi-word expressions in the moves of research article abstracts. Journal of English for Academic Purposes 36: 1–14. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Samar, Reza G., Talebzadeh, Hossein, Kiany, Gholam R. & Akbari, Ramin. 2014. Moves and steps to sell a paper: A cross-cultural genre analysis of applied linguistics conference abstracts. Text & Talk 34(6): 759–785. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Simon-Maeda, Andrea. 2016. A corpus-based study of the AAAL conference handbook. Journal of English for Academic Purposes 23: 71–82. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Stein, Wayne P. 1997. A Genre Analysis of the TESOL Conference Abstract. PhD dissertation, Oklahoma State University.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Swales, John M. 1990. Genre Analysis: English in Academic and Research Settings. Cambridge: CUP.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
2004. Research Genres: Explorations and Applications. Cambridge: CUP. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Tardy, Christine M. 2009. Building Genre Knowledge. West Lafayette IN: Parlor Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Yang, Ruiying & Allison, Desmond. 2003. Research articles in applied linguistics: Moving from results to conclusions. English for Specific Purposes 22: 365–285. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cited by (7)

Cited by seven other publications

He, Mengyu , Leng Hong ANG & Hajar Abdul Rahim
2024. An Exploration of Key Phrase Frames in Business Management Discussions for EAP Teaching. Círculo de Lingüística Aplicada a la Comunicación 100 ► pp. 193 ff. DOI logo
Mathew, Priya & Lee Mccallum
2024. A Corpus-based Analysis of Rhetorical Moves and P-frames in an Omani Learner Corpus of Research Project Abstracts. Journal of Language and Education 10:1 ► pp. 68 ff. DOI logo
Wang, Yuanheng (Arthur) & Xiaofei Lu
2024. Conceptualizing Corpus-Based Genre Pedagogy as Usage-Inspired Second Language Instruction. Corpus-based Studies across Humanities 1:1 ► pp. 133 ff. DOI logo
Yan, Jianwei, Qidi Li & Jingyang Jiang
2024. The development of phrase‐frames in EFL learners’ essays: Variability, structures, and functions. International Journal of Applied Linguistics 34:4 ► pp. 1689 ff. DOI logo
Omidian, Taha, Oliver James Ballance & Anna Siyanova-Chanturia
2023. Replicating corpus-based research in English for academic purposes: Proposed replication of Cortes (2013) and Biber and Gray (2010). Language Teaching 56:1 ► pp. 128 ff. DOI logo
Diaz, Brett A.
2021. Corpus Linguistic Methodology as an Advanced Conversion Design for Social Science Research. International Journal of Multiple Research Approaches 13:3 ► pp. 254 ff. DOI logo
Yoon, Jungwan & J. Elliott Casal
2020. Rhetorical structure, sequence, and variation: A step‐driven move analysis of applied linguistics conference abstracts. International Journal of Applied Linguistics 30:3 ► pp. 462 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 1 december 2025. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.

Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 prag Twitter_Logo_Blue