Task 2

ESP

Research Article Analysis

Integrative Task 2

Consoli Claudia

Carrizo Liliana

A Comparative Analysis of  Medical and Educational Research Articles

A Research Article (RA) is a written paper that illustrates an outcome of scientific research with supporting clinical data.  Researchers write these articles for the purpose of making specific findings known to the scientific community at large. In fact, rather than appearing in a consumer or industry publication, a research article is found exclusively in a peer-reviewed scientific or medical journal such as the Language Learning and Technology and the British Medical Journal.As with any type of targeted writing, it could be claimed that these journals should follow a protocol in terms of layout (Robert,1994). Considering this, there are three important aspects of a research articles that could be analysed, compared and studied.

In the first place, Swales (1994) specifies that the results section should hold a summary of the figures, data with text and tables. In addition to this, the text ought to be logically ordered, and refer the readers to a table where they can see the information. It is also stated that this section describes the outcomes that are related to the hypothesis of the paper and that this is done by means of past tenses.

On the one hand, the educational article contains two parts within the results section; the first and the second period of action research. These two parts are well developed and they follow the same order. Besides, the result section makes use of the past simple tense. Additionally, not only are there tables which reflect all the data and figure, but also samples of the dialogues which are part of this research. On the other hand, the medical paper holds one result section which deals with different topics of the research and this section is described using the past tense. Furthermore, this medical journal article contains charts which show detailed figures of the study. Considering this, the two papers seem to follow the same characteristics in the results area; however, it is of utmost importance to mention that the American Psychological Association (APA) (2010) states that graphs are good at conveying relationships like comparison and distribution. Consequently, it could be claimed that the medical paper’s graphs might help the readers to acquire a better global understanding of the results.

Secondly, when dealing with the discussions and conclusions, the writers might choose to separate the sections or blend them into one section. The discussion part should evaluate whether the problem has been solved .On the other hand, the conclusion should state what is needed to be done next and the reason why this further study should be carried out.

The article belonging to the educational field includes limitations and the discussion seems to be included in the conclusion. The conclusion contains specific implications and clear need for a further research. The medical paper writer acknowledges the importance of the three sections of the last part of the project: discussion, limitations and conclusion. Although the discussion provides information about the key findings, the conclusion does not appear to possess the necessary information to state the reasons for a further research. Furthermore, the conclusion does not present sound arguments that might persuade the reader that his/her conclusions are utterly important. When dealing with conclusions, the educational article shows arguments that would summarize the study without leaving important details aside.  Nevertheless, the medical paper leaves the reader with the sense that there was more to say in the conclusion; it would have been better if the writer had included sound arguments to organize his/her conclusion.

On balance, a writer should be aware of the fact that there are patterns of a research article which are of paramount importance when developing his/her work. Although the educational and the medical journal belong to distinct fields, they seem to follow the same research settings of this genre analysis. In spite of this, after analysing both materials, it might be assumed that the educational paper writer has produced a more suitable argumentative conclusion that may lead the readers into a better understanding of the writer’s goals.

References

Robert S. Day (1994), How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper, 4th edition, Oryx Press, Phoenix.

Swales, J.M., &Feak, C.B. (1994).Academic writing for graduate students: Essential tasks and skills. Ann Harbor, MI: The University of Michigan Press.

            Barrs, K.(2012) “Fostering computer-mediated L2 interaction beyond the classroom.” Language Learning & Technology, vol 16,1,pp. 10-25

Retrived April 2013 from http://caece.campusuniversidad.com.ar/mod/resource/view.php?id=24095

           Di Angelantonio, E. Chowdhury, R.  Sarwar,N. Aspelund,T. Danesh,J. Gudnason,V. “Chronic kidney disease and risk of major cardiovasculardisease and non-vascular mortality: prospective population based cohort study.” BMJ. Retrieved April 2013 from http://caece.campusuniversidad.com.ar/mod/resource/view.php?id=24096

            American Psychological Association (2010). APA formatting and style guide. Retrieved from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/