Table 3. Moves in Research Paper Introductions.

Move 1. Establish a research territory

a. Show that the general research area is important, central, interesting, and problematic in some way;

Move 2. Find a niche

a. Indicate a gap in the previous research, or extend previous knowledge in some way.

Move 3. Occupy the niche

a. Outline purposes or state the nature of the present research;

b. List research questions or hypotheses;

c. Announce principle findings;

d. State the value of the present research;

e. Indicate the structure of the research paper.

Adapted from Swales and Feak [11].