Generic Features of Social Science and Natural Science Thesis Introductions in Pakistani Context

Abstract

The present study aims at identifying the generic features of Pakistani M. Phil thesis introduction section. For this purpose dataset of 40thesis introductions, broadly categorized under social science and natural sciences, has been compiled and analyzed. The center of attention of this study is introduction parts, specifically, of M. Phil thesis of natural sciences and social sciences at Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF). The present research has revealed macro structures (move analysis) of M. Phil theses introduction section. For the present study, the introduction parts of 40 M. Phil theses have been selected, 20 of them are from the social sciences and 20 are from natural sciences. Macro structures have been examined by using the CARS amended model proposed by Swales (2004). The results of analyses have revealed differences in terms of both the moves and step patterns in theses introductory part different disciplines.

Keywords: genre analysis, Pakistani thesis, Move analysis, sealed CARS model