“Create a Research Space” (CARS) Model of Research Introductions
By: John Swales
“Sometimes getting through the introduction of a research article can be the most difficult part of reading it. In his CARS model, Swales describes three “moves” that almost all research introductions make.” (Swales)
I thought that this passage was important because it is the first thing you read in the article and tells the reader the purpose of the writing. It presents the problem to the reader and everything that follows are the steps to resolve that problem. Swales talks about all the points that must be present when writing an introductions and walks you through the process that you should use in order to successfully introduce your argument. He starts with establishing a territory which basically means to provide background information on your topic. The second thing he says to do is establish a niche which means to convince the reader that there is still room for research in whatever it is your talking about which can be done in a couple ways that Swales provides. The last move that Swales talks about is actually occupying the niche which consists of the writing gathering the research and actually making the point you are trying to get across.
Helping Students Use Textual Sources Persuasively
By: Margaret Kantz
“A key concept in this change is learning to recognize that facts aren’t so much inherently true statements as they are claims- that is, assertions that most of a given audience has agreed are true because for that audience sufficient proof has already been given.”
I thought that this was a very interesting passage because it talks about how facts are true because they are proven and evidence is present for the audience. Anything that the audience has not come to a consensus on are still considered claims. Kantz talks about how even texts that we believe to contain all facts such as textbooks and encyclopedias still contain claims. Kantz then goes on to talk about the importance of finding valid sources that contain facts rather than claims. There are always ideas in writing that are personal which make them not purely factual so it is important for students to find writing that provides valid information and supports your argument. It is important to analyze the reading before actually getting into it. Some things you can do is find the argument and establish whether you agree or disagree and try to find the writers supporting arguments.
