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Genre Analysis of Abstracts in International Medical Journals
ZHU Shuang-jie, YANG Tang-feng
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DOI:10.17265/2159-5836/2025.08.003
College of Foreign Languages, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
This study systematically analyzes the genre structure and linguistic features of 42 English abstracts from six internationally renowned medical journals, based on the revised CARS model proposed by Swales. The research findings indicate that medical abstracts typically follow a three-step structure: “Establishing a Research Territory—Establishing a Research Niche—Occupying the Niche”, where the steps “Research Purpose” and “Research Results” are the most frequently utilized, forming the core content of the abstracts. Within the sequence of moves, 81% conform to conventional patterns, while a minority of samples exhibit unconventional structures such as inversion, cycling, and repetition. In terms of linguistic features, the present simple tense and active voice are predominantly used, reflecting the universality of the research and the author’s agency; conversely, the simple past tense and passive voice are primarily employed to describe research methods and processes. This study reveals the writing conventions of medical abstracts, providing empirical evidence and genre reference for non-native scholars in the preparation and publication of their work in international journals.
CARS model, medical journals, genre analysis, abstract structure, linguistic features
Journal of Literature and Art Studies, August 2025, Vol. 15, No. 8, 620-628
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