Developing a Rhetorical-Moves Model for Writing an Effective Statement the problem Section of Research Proposals
An Action Research Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62701/revedu.v14.5529Keywords:
Action research, Model, Problem statement, Rethorical moves, Research proposal, WritingAbstract
A convincing research proposal requires a clearly stated problem statement that captures the essence of the research question; however, master and doctorate candidates struggle to write this section. Therefore, this study aims to provide students and researchers with a rhetorical- moves model to enhance their problem statement writing and improve the quality of their research proposals. Adopting an action research design, the study offers a developed model composed of three rhetorical moves Problem, Consequence and Gap which is systematically applied within two master-level EFL classrooms to write effective problem statements. Document analysis and Focus group discussions are conducted in order to capture the usefulness of the model, investigate challenges and provide further solutions. Findings indicate the usefulness of the suggested model in writing persuasive, clear and organized problem statements with some challenges that can be treated if the application of the model and students’ productions are followed with teacher feedback.
Downloads
Global Statistics ℹ️
|
22
Views
|
7
Downloads
|
|
29
Total
|
|
References
References
Ali, A., & Pandya, S. (2021). A four-stage framework for the development of a research problem statement in doctoral dissertations. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 16, 469–485. https://doi.org/10.28945/4839 DOI: https://doi.org/10.28945/4839
Denarti, R., Puspita, H., & Mukhrizal. (2021). Rhetorical Moves in Problem Statement Sections of Postgraduate Theses of English Education Study Program. Journal of English Education and Teaching (JEET)
Ellis, T. J., & Levy, Y. (2008). A Framework of Problem-Based Research: A Guide for Novice Researchers on the Development of a Research-Worthy Problem. Informing Science: The International Journal of an Emerging Transdiscipline, Vol. 11, Issue 1, 17-33 DOI: https://doi.org/10.28945/438
Gidado, M., & Bappi, S. (2024). Integrated model for effective statement of the problem formulation (IMEPSF). Journal of Research Methodology and Academic Writing, 3(1), 1–15.
Gordon, S. (2014). The Language of Scientific Articles: A Linguistic Analysis of the Introduction Section. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, Vol. 13, Issue 2, 24-36
Hirano, S. (2009). A Study on the Use of Modal Verbs in the Introductions of Research Articles in Two Fields. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, Vol. 8, Issue 1, 35-47
Kothari, C. R. (2004). Research methodology: Methods and techniques (2nd ed.). New Age International.
Obeso, (2019). Rhetorical Structure in Problem Statement Section of Undergraduate Students’ Monographs. Springer.
Parsa, S., & Tahirian, M. (2017). A Comparative Study of the Use of Hedging Devices in the Introductions of Research Articles in Two Disciplines. Journal of Language and Translation, Vol. 7, Issue 1, 1-14.
Pujiyanti, S. (2018). A Study on the Use of Transitional Phrases in the Introduction Section of Research Articles. International Journal of Instruction, Vol. 11, Issue 2, 129-143.
Samraj, B. (2008). A Genre-Based Analysis of the Introduction Section of Research Articles in Applied Linguistics. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, Vol. 7, Issue 1, 30-44.
Swales, J. M. (1990). Genre analysis: English in academic and research settings. Cambridge University Press.
Tseng, W. (2011). Move Analysis of Abstracts in Applied Linguistics Research Articles. English for Academic Purposes, Vol. 10, Issue 2, 102-111
Vahid, M. (2016). A Corpus-Based Analysis of Phraseological Patterns in the Introductions of Research Articles. International Journal of Corpus Linguistics, Vol. 11, Issue 3, 251-273.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Authors retain copyright and transfer to the journal the right of first publication and publishing rights

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Those authors who publish in this journal accept the following terms:
-
Authors retain copyright.
-
Authors transfer to the journal the right of first publication. The journal also owns the publishing rights.
-
All published contents are governed by an Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Access the informative version and legal text of the license. By virtue of this, third parties are allowed to use what is published as long as they mention the authorship of the work and the first publication in this journal. If you transform the material, you may not distribute the modified work. -
Authors may make other independent and additional contractual arrangements for non-exclusive distribution of the version of the article published in this journal (e.g., inclusion in an institutional repository or publication in a book) as long as they clearly indicate that the work was first published in this journal.
- Authors are allowed and recommended to publish their work on the Internet (for example on institutional and personal websites), following the publication of, and referencing the journal, as this could lead to constructive exchanges and a more extensive and quick circulation of published works (see The Effect of Open Access).







