TESOL Conference Abstracts: Discrepancies between Potential Writers’ Knowledge and Actual Composition

Authors

  • Loan Thi Thuy Nguyen Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand
  • Qian Li Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand
  • Linh Nguyen Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand
  • Issra Pramoolsook Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand

Abstract

The ability to write a successful conference abstract seems to be one barrier preventing new researchers from disseminating their research work in their particular disciplinary community. However, very few studies on how conference abstracts are structured have been conducted in order to help such novice researchers. This study, thus, aims to examine the rhetorical structure of conference abstracts in two TESOL conferences in Asia with the purpose of informing a particular group of new researchers in Asian settings about the actual practice of writing this particular genre. The findings from the open-ended questions and the move analysis of 137 abstracts indicated that there was a mismatch between these potential conference abstract writers’ knowledge and the actual composition of these conference abstracts. Besides the rhetorical structures of conference abstracts, this paper also provided some pedagogical suggestions on dealing with this mismatch.Keywords: abstracts; TESOL conferences; rhetorical structure; novice writers; genre analysis

Author Biographies

Loan Thi Thuy Nguyen, Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand

Nguyễn Thị Thúy Loan obtained an M.A. in TESOL (Hons) from Canberra University, Australia (2004) and is currently conducting a study on the rhetorical structures and citation practice in TESOL Master’s theses written by Vietnamese for her doctoral study at School of Foreign Languages, Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand.

Qian Li, Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand

Qian Li is currently a PhD student at School of Foreign Languages, Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand. Her research areas include second language writing, genre analysis and business discourse.

Linh Nguyen, Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand

Mr. Nguyen Duy Linh is now a PhD. candidate in English Language Studies at Suranaree University of Technology in Thailand. His research interests include technology-enhanced language learning and teaching writing.

Issra Pramoolsook, Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand

Issra Pramoolsook is an assistant professor in Applied Linguistics and ELT at Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand. His research interests include discourse and genre analysis, disciplinary and professional discourses, and academic and professional writing especially with genre-based approach.

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Published

2014-09-17

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 3 (2014)

Section

Articles

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