‘This study aims to …’

Using Swales’ (1990) CARS model and Hyland’s (2005) interpersonal model of metadiscourse, this study takes a pragmatic approach to explore the rhetorical structure and metadiscoursal features of research article introductions in a comparable corpus of 40 introductions from applied linguistics and chemistry. Specifically, this article reports on a rhetorical analysis of introduction moves and an identification of metadiscourse markers and discourse functions they were conveying and focuses on the mapping of the markers most pervasively used to signal the moves. Results showed disciplinary differences regarding both move structure and metadiscourse use which could be attributed to the susceptibility of rhetorical practices and preferences to socio-rhetorical conventions in each community. In addition to their pedagogical implications, the results of this study could be of use for novice research article writers and/or students in applied linguistics and chemistry in order to better consolidate their credence and socialisation in their community through publication.