Masters Theses

Abstract

"This study examines the style of chemical engineering research articles to discover stylistic trends that may be applicable to authors looking to publish their own research. Rhetorical stylistic analysis was used as a research method to allow for thorough analysis of all articles in the sample. Ten research articles from the two prominent chemical engineering journals were chosen using specific criteria to constitute a sample of articles that could most accurately represent the population of chemical engineering research articles. Each article was then analyzed line by line to identify markers of chemical engineering research article style, including the following: ▬Use of voice ▬Examples of figurative language ▬Sentence variety, length, readability ▬Use of dependent clauses as a method of amplification ▬Paragraphing ▬Kind of diction The small sample size prevented generalization of all the conclusions to the overall population of chemical engineering research articles, but some major trends were identified in the sample. Chemical engineering research article authors prefer sentences with no more than two clauses, actively use figurative language to achieve their communicative goals, introduce passive voice as a tool to maintain objectivity, and often use simple sentences to convey their ideas"--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Malone, Edward A.

Committee Member(s)

Wright, David
Reardon, Daniel C.

Department(s)

English and Technical Communication

Degree Name

M.S. in Technical Communication

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Summer 2013

Pagination

ix, 72 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (page 61).

Rights

© 2013 David Lamar Young, Jr., All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Communication in engineering -- Research
Communication -- Research -- Methodology
Communication of technical information
Technical writing
Discourse analysis
Chemical engineering -- Research

Thesis Number

T 10361

Electronic OCLC #

858610409

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