Move and Step Types in Swales’ Genre Analysis Model: A Study of Problem Statements in Master of Arts Dissertations

Abstract

This study examines the genre of the Statement of the Problem in Master of Arts dissertations submitted to Information Technology Department, Modibbo Adama University, Yola, drawing on six (6) dissertations from the 2021, 2022, and 2023 academic sessions. Anchored within the tradition of English for Specific Purposes (ESP), the analysis employs Swales’ Create-A-Research-Space (CARS) model to identify the rhetorical Moves and Steps used in constructing the problem statements. The findings indicate that, although the writers display a foundational awareness of the CARS framework, notable genre-related difficulties occur across sessions. The dissertations produced in 2021 show challenges in claiming centrality and establishing the wider significance of their research topics. The 2022 dissertations demonstrate weaknesses in counter-claiming, particularly in engaging with conflicting literature and presenting alternative perspectives. The 2023 dissertations frequently fail to articulate the research niche and contributions, resulting in problem statements with limited contextual depth and academic justification. Across all three years, the inability to convincingly situate studies within existing scholarly traditions and to articulate clear knowledge gaps is a persistent concern. Overall, the study highlights the need for enhanced academic writing support, especially in strengthening rhetorical awareness, improving structural organisation, and fostering greater clarity and precision in the production of ESP-aligned problem statements.