Provide training or workshops on scientific writing and rhetorical movement

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 103 views

Understanding the Rhetorical Movement in Student's Thesis Abstract: A Study on English Students at the University of North Sumatra

Introduction

Writing a thesis abstract is a crucial step in academic research, as it serves as an introduction to the entire research paper. A well-written abstract should provide a clear and concise overview of the research, including its goals, methods, results, and conclusions. However, many students struggle to write effective abstracts, often due to a lack of understanding of the rhetorical movement. In this study, we aim to identify the rhetorical movement in the thesis abstracts of English students at the University of North Sumatra and describe how this movement was realized.

The Importance of Rhetorical Movement in Abstract Writing

Rhetorical movement is a series of important elements in scientific work, especially in abstract writing. It involves the arrangement of key components such as goals, methods, results, and conclusions in a logical and coherent manner. A well-structured abstract should provide a clear and concise overview of the research, making it easier for readers to understand the entire contents of the paper. In this study, we used a qualitative approach and document analysis to examine the rhetorical movement in the thesis abstracts of 10 English students at the University of North Sumatra who graduated in 2017.

Analysis of Rhetorical Movement

Our analysis revealed four types of rhetorical movements in the analyzed abstracts, namely:

INTRODUCTION PURPOSE (18.75%): This type of movement involves introducing the research topic and providing a clear purpose or objective.
Method (20%): This type of movement involves describing the research methodology and methods used to collect and analyze data.
Results (12.5%): This type of movement involves presenting the findings of the research, including any data or results.
Conclusion (3.75%): This type of movement involves summarizing the main findings and implications of the research.

The percentage analysis shows that although each part has a different weight, the method is the most dominant. This might reflect the focus of students on the research process they do. However, the worrying thing is the very low percentage of the conclusion, which shows that many students do not fully understand the importance of summarizing the results of their research clearly and effectively.

Different Sequence of Rhetorical Movements

In addition to the percentage analysis, our study also found differences in the order of rhetorical movements in each abstract. This shows that students may not fully understand the ideal structure for abstract writing. The application of inconsistent sequences can cause the reader to be confused in following the author's thoughts.

Conclusion

The conclusion of this study shows that most English students at the University of North Sumatra still do not understand how to write abstracts that are good and in accordance with scientific rules. Therefore, there needs to be more intensive efforts in learning abstract writing techniques. This can be done through training or workshops that focus on scientific writing and appropriate rhetorical movements. Thus, students are expected to improve their ability to compile scientific papers, especially in the preparation of abstracts that are informative and well structured.

The Significance of Rhetorical Movement in Abstract Writing

A good understanding of the rhetorical movement is very important in abstract writing, because this is not only related to the ability to write, but also the ability to convey ideas and information clearly. In the academic world, abstract is the entrance for readers to understand the entire contents of the research. Therefore, increasing abstract writing abilities must be a priority in higher education, in order to produce competent researchers and ready to face challenges in this information era.

Recommendations for Improving Abstract Writing Skills

Based on the findings of this study, we recommend the following:

Provide training or workshops on scientific writing and rhetorical movement: This can help students improve their ability to write effective abstracts.
Emphasize the importance of conclusion: Students should be taught to summarize the main findings and implications of the research clearly and effectively.
Encourage students to practice writing abstracts: This can help students develop their skills in writing abstracts and improve their understanding of the rhetorical movement.

By implementing these recommendations, we hope to improve the abstract writing skills of English students at the University of North Sumatra and produce competent researchers who are ready to face challenges in this information era.

Limitations of the Study

This study has several limitations. Firstly, the sample size is small, consisting of only 10 abstracts. Secondly, the study only examined the thesis abstracts of English students at the University of North Sumatra, and may not be generalizable to other students or universities. Finally, the study only analyzed the rhetorical movement in the abstracts, and did not examine other aspects of the research paper.

Future Research Directions

Future research should aim to:

Examine the rhetorical movement in abstracts from other disciplines: This can help to identify any differences in the rhetorical movement across disciplines.
Investigate the impact of training or workshops on abstract writing skills: This can help to determine the effectiveness of training or workshops in improving abstract writing skills.
Develop a more comprehensive framework for abstract writing: This can help to provide a more detailed understanding of the rhetorical movement and improve the quality of abstracts.

By addressing these limitations and exploring new research directions, we hope to contribute to the development of effective abstract writing skills and produce competent researchers who are ready to face challenges in this information era.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Rhetorical Movement in Abstract Writing

Q: What is rhetorical movement in abstract writing?

A: Rhetorical movement refers to the arrangement of key components such as goals, methods, results, and conclusions in a logical and coherent manner in an abstract. It is a crucial element in scientific writing, as it helps to convey ideas and information clearly and effectively.

Q: Why is rhetorical movement important in abstract writing?

A: Rhetorical movement is important in abstract writing because it helps to provide a clear and concise overview of the research, making it easier for readers to understand the entire contents of the paper. It also helps to convey the main findings and implications of the research clearly and effectively.

Q: What are the four types of rhetorical movements in abstract writing?

A: The four types of rhetorical movements in abstract writing are:

INTRODUCTION PURPOSE (18.75%): This type of movement involves introducing the research topic and providing a clear purpose or objective.
Method (20%): This type of movement involves describing the research methodology and methods used to collect and analyze data.
Results (12.5%): This type of movement involves presenting the findings of the research, including any data or results.
Conclusion (3.75%): This type of movement involves summarizing the main findings and implications of the research.

Q: Why is the method the most dominant type of rhetorical movement in abstract writing?

A: The method is the most dominant type of rhetorical movement in abstract writing because it reflects the focus of students on the research process they do. However, the low percentage of the conclusion shows that many students do not fully understand the importance of summarizing the results of their research clearly and effectively.

Q: What are the differences in the order of rhetorical movements in abstract writing?

A: The differences in the order of rhetorical movements in abstract writing show that students may not fully understand the ideal structure for abstract writing. The application of inconsistent sequences can cause the reader to be confused in following the author's thoughts.

Q: How can students improve their abstract writing skills?

A: Students can improve their abstract writing skills by:

Providing training or workshops on scientific writing and rhetorical movement: This can help students improve their ability to write effective abstracts.
Emphasizing the importance of conclusion: Students should be taught to summarize the main findings and implications of the research clearly and effectively.
Encouraging students to practice writing abstracts: This can help students develop their skills in writing abstracts and improve their understanding of the rhetorical movement.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: This study has several limitations, including:

Small sample size: The study only examined 10 abstracts.
Limited generalizability: The study only examined the thesis abstracts of English students at the University of North Sumatra, and may not be generalizable to other students or universities.
Limited scope: The study only analyzed the rhetorical movement in the abstracts, and did not examine other aspects of the research paper.

Q: What are the future research directions for this study?

A: Future research should aim to:

Examine the rhetorical movement in abstracts from other disciplines: This can help to identify any differences in the rhetorical movement across disciplines.
Investigate the impact of training or workshops on abstract writing skills: This can help to determine the effectiveness of training or workshops in improving abstract writing skills.
Develop a more comprehensive framework for abstract writing: This can help to provide a more detailed understanding of the rhetorical movement and improve the quality of abstracts.

Q: What are the implications of this study for higher education?

A: The implications of this study for higher education are that increasing abstract writing abilities must be a priority in order to produce competent researchers and ready to face challenges in this information era.