Seminar: Corpus and genre-based analyses of qualitative and quantitative empirical research: Implications for teaching English for research publication purposes

Corpus and genre-based analyses of qualitative and quantitative empirical research: Implications for teaching English for research publication purposes
 

Professor Charlene Polio
Department of Linguistics, Languages and Cultures

Michigan State University
 

March 10, 2025 (Monday)

12:45 – 14:00

Room 401-402, Meng Wah Complex, HKU

Registration:https://hkuems1.hku.hk/hkuems/ec_regform.aspx?guest=Y&UEID=99053

Abstract:

I begin this talk by presenting the results of several published studies from my research group (Gao, Pham, & Polio, 2022, 2023, & 2025) that examined qualitative and quantitative empirical research articles from applied linguistics.  We compiled a corpus of 863 studies from top applied linguistics journals. These studies used a variety of analyses including collocational, rhetorical move analysis, and citation analysis to examine publication practices across the two research paradigms and to compare advice given in research manuals versus reality.

The research was motivated by our desire to better understand our own field, particularly so that we could more effectively teach research methods to graduate students. For the remainder of this talk, however, I will talk first about the challenges of extending this research to other fields and then the implications for teaching English for research publication purposes in general. I will show how examples of our findings can be used to create classroom activities in which students investigate their own areas of research. I will argue that we can use a focus on genre awareness to help students in heterogenous classes improve their genre knowledge in their own fields.

About the speaker:

Charlene Polio (Professor; B.A. University of Pennsylvania; 1983; M.S. University of Pennsylvania; 1984; Ph.D. UCLA, 1992) specializes in the area of second language writing and research methodology. In addition, she has published studies on discourse patterns of preservice and experienced teachers. Professor Polio’s publications appear in various journals including Studies in Second Language Acquisition, The Modern Language Journal, TESOL Quarterly, and Journal of Second Language Writing as well as several edited volumes. She has recently published two books, one on research methods for L2 writing, with Debra Friedman, and one on using authentic materials, with Eve Zyzik. She has served on the editorial boards of TESOL Quarterly and the Journal of Second Language Writing. She is the co-editor of TESOL Quarterly. Professor Polio has also taught ESL for several years in academic programs both in the US and China, and has had much practical experience in the area of language assessment.

~ All are welcome ~