This paper seeks to analyze the research article abstracts across three disciplines: applied linguistics, applied economics, and mechanical engineering. The analysis mainly focuseson the rhetorical structure, i.e. the constituent moves and steps. In addition, self-mention of the author as well as the voice and tense of the verbs included in each move are examined. To this end, 21 published abstracts from each field (a total of 63 abstracts), all appearing in established, international journals, were selected. The model proposed by Hyland (2000), composed of 5 moves, was employed as a general guideline and the steps and moves were identified and studied in the three groups of abstracts. The results compared and contrasted the dominant move patterns of each field, their unique moves/steps, the typical voice and tense of verbs employed in each move, and the differences regarding the self-mention. All in all, the findings of this study had important pedagogical implications for the practitioners in ESP and EAP fields.

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