Rhetorical Structures and Features of Literature Review in Graduate Theses across Disciplines

This study attempted to analyze the various moves, move sequences, and evaluative expressions employed in the literature review section in graduate theses using genre-analytic system of moves. Results showed that rhetorical moves and patterns varied across disciplines. There were differences in the use of moves which were found to be influenced by the specific writing context and situation (academic discipline) to which the graduate students belonged: expectations of the audience (panel members; adviser, program director) and the researchers’ writing style. The data also showed that there were only few instances of definitely bounded evaluation paragraphs indicating the graduate students’ need for analytical and critical abilities to express their stance towards other writers’ papers.

Keywords: Evaluative expressions, literature review, rhetorical moves, genre approach