A Genre Analysis of Abstract Moves Written by Non-Native Speakers

Writing academically is substantially important for transmitting reliable knowledge to readers, abstract represents a fundamental section in revealing basic section. Therefore, this study aims to analyze rhetorical structural moves in two domains: pure sciences and humanitarian . The qualitative approach was employed, and data were selected from the Scientific Journal Ranking website: 24 abstracts from scientific domain and the same from humanitarian. Research articles were chosen intentionally following IPMPC by Hyland (2000). Based on research findings, both domains showed similarities, whereby methodology move was used in all abstracts of the scientific domain and 23 abstracts of humanitarian . The finding move came second of use though it is higher in abstracts of scientific domain. Another similarity is the significance and implications move, whereby only two abstracts in humanitarian domain included this move, whereas no abstracts in scientific domain included this move. In addition, regardless of optional moves, this analysis reveals that Turkish authors are not familiar with rhetorical use of abstracts in both domains since they did not include important moves. These findings demonstrate varieties in structural moves used in scientific and humanitarian domains. Such findings could be employed pedagogically by novice writers who are not familiar enough with how to write abstracts academically and expertly as well as identify which moves are essential and which are optional.