The Evolutionary Nature of Genre: An Investigation of the Short Texts Accompanying Research Articles in the Scientific Journal Nature

摘要

"The present empirical analysis of the short texts accompanying research articles in the scientific journal Nature covering a period from 1991 to 2005,rnnot only shows that these texts are significantly different from prescriptive models of abstracts, but that they have also recently undergone a further change. Up until 1996, in contrast to the traditionally viewed structure of abstracts (Introduction-Methods-Results-Conclusion/Discussion (IMRC/D), the short texts in Nature vary considerably in structure with only 18% of those studied having the basic IMRC/D format and the Results being the only obligatory move. This manipulation of structure, accompanied by the predominant use of the Present and Present Perfect active, the use of modifiers, the apparent removal of hedging to strengthen claims all contribute to make these texts eye-catching, to advertise a paper's contribution.