Discussion Boards

"Create a Research Space" (CARS) Model of Research introductions' JOHN SWALES

Sometimes getting through the introduction of a research article can be themost difficult part of reading it. In his CARS model, Swales describes three "moves" that almost all research introductions make. We're providing a sum- mary of Swales's model here as a kind of shorthand to help you in both reading research articles and writing them. Identifying these moves in introductions to the articles you read in, this book will help you understand the authors' projects better from the outset. When you write your own papers, making the same moves yourself will help YOLl present your own arguments clearly and convinc- ingly. So read through the summary now, but be sure to return to it often for help in understanding the selections in the rest of the book.

Move 1: Establishing a Territory In this move, the author sets the context for his or her research, providing necessary background on the topic. This move includes one or more of the following steps:

Step 1: Claiming Centrality

The author asks the discourse community (the audience for the paper) to accept t hat the research about to be reported is part of a lively, significant, or well- established research area. To claim centrality the author might write:

"Recently there has been a spate of interest in ... " "Knowledge of X has great importance for ... "

This step is used widely across the academic disciplines, t hough less in tbe physical sciences than in the social sci- l'l1CCS and the humanities.

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Step 2: Making Topic Generalizations

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M V 2: Establishing a Niche , , III 1111.. 11IOW, the author argues that there is an o~~n "niche" in t,he ~X"IIII): r I In h,,, ~pOl'l' that needs to be filled through additional resea rch. The nut IHII III I h"lh"~h " niche in one of four ways:

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Continuing a Tradition

The author presents the research as a useful extension of existing research. For cxa IIIpic:

"Earlier studies seemed to suggest X. To verify this finding, more work is urgently needed."

Move 3: Occupying a Niche In this move, the author turns the niche established in Move 2 into the research space that he or she will fill; that is, the author demonstrates how he or she will substantiate the counter-claim made, fill the gap identified, answer the question(s) asked, or continue the research tradition. The author makes this move in several steps, described below. The initial step (IA or IB) is obligatory, though many research articles stop after that step.

Step 1A: Outlining Purposes

The author indicates the main purpose(s) of the current article. For example:

"In this article I argue ... "

"The present research tries to clarify ... "

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Step 1B: Announcing Present Research

The author describes the research in the current article. For example:

"This paper describes three separate studies conducted between March 2008 and January 2009."

Step 2: Announcing Principal Findings

'I'IH: author presents the main conclusions of his or her research. For example:

"The results of rhc study suggest ... "

"Wlll'l1 we eX:1111ined X, we discovered ... "

Stop 3: Indicating the Structure of the RC50nrfil Altlt.h

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