Genre analysis of undergraduate dissertation conclusions

Abstract

Genre analysis has gained so much interest among genre analysts all over the world. Inasmuch as there has been this growing interest in genre analysis, it appears that research into undergraduate writing is still in its infancy. This study investigates the undergraduate writing, specifically dissertations authored by undergraduate students from the lenses of ESP tradition. The data for the study comprises concluding chapters of forty (40) dissertations from two departments—Chemistry and History—in the University of Cape Coast. Using Bunton (2005) as my analytical framework, the study revealed eight moves: Move1 (Stating the aim(s) of the chapter), Move 2 (Restating the objective(s) of the study), Move 3 (Describing the methods used), Move 4 (Summarizing the study), Move 5 (Giving recommendation(s)), Move 6 (Stating challenges), Move 7 (Extending well wishes) and Move 8 (Stating the importance of the study). All the eight moves identified were present in the Department of History Conclusions (DHCs). Out of the eight moves identified, only six were present in the Department of Chemistry Conclusions (DCCs). Pertaining to the lexico-grammatical resources in the various moves, the AntConc software was used to tease out the keywords in the various moves. Collocates of the keywords that were common to moves across the disciplines were also identified. It can be concluded that conclusions from the two selected departments vary in terms of their titles, schematic structure as well as the keywords that typify the moves identified.