Mapping out Discoursal Moves of Two Student Research Writing Genres and Ways to Enhance Discoursal Writing Proficiency at Sultan Qaboos University

Aim: This proposal sets to explore the discoursal characteristics of two student-led research writing genres written by English major students, the research paper at the undergraduate level in ENGL3129 and the master?s dissertation in CUTM7001 at Sultan Qaboos University. Method: Moves analysis central in genre research will be used to investigate the discoursal structures of these two genres, and textual analysis of in-text citation and authorial stance will also be conducted. Both analyses will be based on well-known analytical frameworks from the literature. Procedure: Two corpora corresponding to a sample of research papers and master?s dissertations will be compiled separately. Manual analysis will be done to identify the moves structure of Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results and Discussion of Results, and electronic analysis will be conducted via Antconc in order to study the textual features of in-text citation and authorial stance. Finally, the findings will be mapped out against available models in the genre research literature. Practical significance: In teaching and learning, materials for the classroom and for course development in relation to these two genres will be developed based on informed consideration of Omani students? needs and abilities. Under scholarship, an important outcome of the study will be the documentation, presentation and publication of relevant research findings in national and international arenas.

Aim: This proposal sets to explore the discoursal characteristics of two student-led research writing genres written by English major students, the research paper at the undergraduate level in ENGL3129 and the master?s dissertation in CUTM7001 at Sultan Qaboos University. Method: Moves analysis central in genre research will be used to investigate the discoursal structures of these two genres, and textual analysis of in-text citation and authorial stance will also be conducted. Both analyses will be based on well-known analytical frameworks from the literature. Procedure: Two corpora corresponding to a sample of research papers and master?s dissertations will be compiled separately. Manual analysis will be done to identify the moves structure of Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results and Discussion of Results, and electronic analysis will be conducted via Antconc in order to study the textual features of in-text citation and authorial stance. Finally, the findings will be mapped out against available models in the genre research literature. Practical significance: In teaching and learning, materials for the classroom and for course development in relation to these two genres will be developed based on informed consideration of Omani students? needs and abilities. Under scholarship, an important outcome of the study will be the documentation, presentation and publication of relevant research findings in national and international arenas.