Theme structure and thematic progression patterns in Anthropology research article introductions Written in English by Saudi and Anglophone academic writers [In English]

Abstract

Introductions to research articles establish the context of the study and present its rationale and objectives. Hence, research article introductions serve as an important guide, enabling readers to fully explore the research paper's potential. This importance incites the need to cultivate insights into the ideal scholarly writing practices. To the best of our knowledge, there is a lack of studies investigating the rhetoric in research article introductions in social sciences. This paper employed a comparative approach to investigate the thematic choices and patterns of thematic progression in the introductions to anthropology research articles written in English by Saudi English writers and Anglophone academic writers. Utilizing Halliday’s systemic functional linguistic approach and the Daneš thematic progression model, we analyzed 14 research article introductions authored by Saudi English writers and Anglophone academic writers. The findings revealed that both groups exhibit quantitative and qualitative similarities in their thematic choices. Nonetheless, we observed notable differences in thematic progression usage between the two groups. Despite these variations, both groups employed thematic progression patterns and contextual frames for similar rhetorical functions. This finding highlights the importance of targeting English-language instruction. By addressing specific areas of variation, educators can help Saudi English writers improve their academic writing proficiency and facilitate their integration into the scholarly community.

Keywords

• anthropology research articles
• thematic organization
• thematic structure
• comparative rhetoric