Subject Guides: Writing Guides : Research Article Introductions: The CaRS Model

Research Article Introductions: Create-a-Research-Space

What is the CaRS Model? 🗺️

John Swales (1990) developed the Create a Research Space (CARS) model through genre analysis of research article introductions. This means that he examined a large collection of published research article introductions from across the disciplines, looking for common strategies and patterns in the writing. His analysis revealed that successful research articles typically follow the same three similar moves.

According to Swales, researchers represent their research in writing by:

🔍 Demonstrating familiarity with the existing state of knowledge in their field;
❓ Identifying a gap, lack, problem or need in the pre-existing state of knowledge; and
🧩 Making an original contribution which fills the gap and/or addresses the problem

Undergraduates are not expected to create new knowledge. However, because disciplinary values, norms, and practices inform student assignments, the CaRS model can be a helpful guide for structuring your own research article introductions.

Tip: The CaRS moves are often distinct, but they may sometimes overlap and they can also occur out of order. Still, as Swales shows, almost all research article introductions feature all three moves.

Annotated Example: Research Article Introduction (CaRS)

Annotated Example: Research Article Introduction (CaRS)
This research article excerpt has been colour-coded and annotated to demonstrate how the authors implemented the CaRS model in their introduction.

References

Swales, J. (1990). Genre Analysis: English in Academic and Research Settings. Cambridge UP.