The rhetorical strategies to create incremental innovation in applied linguistics research articles

Rhetorical studies within research articles have received a growing concern among linguists worldwide. However, studies on this significant area to create incremental innovation are rarely found. Understanding this need has attracted the authors to conduct the present study by investigating rhetorical strategies authors use to create incremental innovation in their research articles and analyzing linguistic features used to create innovation for their current research. In an attempt to address these purposes, the present study analyzed 37 research article introductions (RAIs) from the disciplines of Applied Linguistics published in four reputable international journals (Q1) with the Scimago Journal Ranks (SJR) higher than 0,61. This study employed a newly designed framework and linguistic feature approaches from previous studies for the analysis. The results showed three rhetorical strategies to create incremental innovation in research articles. However, of these three, most authors tend to employ Strategy 2, Presenting the existing knowledge – and then – improving it in the present study, more than the other two strategies. Then, to realize incremental innovation, they employed six linguistic features, but of these six, two features (connective adverbs and phrases denoting examining a particular issue) appeared to be the most dominant in the present data

'Rowing between two reefs': EFL curricular innovation issues in secondary education in Indonesia

This study presents a new look at English curriculum innovations in Indonesian secondary education. Despite the good intention of the designs, many researchers argue that innovations still have not improved school English teaching outcomes. However, little research has examined this issue from the teachers' perspective using a fidelity perspective (Fullan, 2007). This study investigated the 2004 and 2006 English curricula for secondary schools in Indonesia from the English teachers' views using the fidelity framework. It found that the teachers' degree of fidelity was low. They failed to properly implement the critical component: developing students' communicative competencies with the Genre-Based Approach as they substantially adapted the curricula's contents. As suggested in some studies, the failure was not due to their incompetence, although this cannot be entirely discounted. It was more so to external factors beyond their control, especially a mismatch between the amount of material to cover and the time available, inadequate training, and the overwhelming demand to prepare students for the national examination. As the authorities also expected them to implement real innovation, they had to fake their reports. Some implications for future designs and training are suggested

Getting published in international journals: Perception of Indonesian scholars in linguistics and language education on the issues they face

Publishing research articles (RAs) in international journals (IJs) has been considered increasingly crucial by developing countries including Indonesia. For the Indonesian Government, publishing RAs in international journals is important to increase its competitive power academically as Indonesian universities are entering a global competition to attract students. Therefore, publishing RAs in international journals is becoming more and more important, e.g. for promotion, especially at senior levels. This study reports on the second and most widespread national-level survey of a three-year project funded by the former Indonesian Government through its Ministry of Research and Higher Education (MRHE). The central question is, "What are the key factors contributing to their lack of international research publications making the number low compared to smaller nations such as Thailand (before 2017)".This article reports the results of the second survey, with a much bigger population sample from many more universities located in many more different regions covering all the major islands in Indonesia compared to the first survey reported in our previous article. The bigger size of data is important based on the premise that the broader and the more diverse the information sources, the more comprehensive the information will be and the better understanding we gain. Some of the findings support the past results, but some contradict them

Upgrading EFL teachers’ Quality through An Online Mentoring System, An Innovative In-Service Training Model: The Case of Indonesia

Many studies have been conducted in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teacher education to improve teachers’ quality, some of these have been on mentoring teachers, with the purpose of improving teaching of English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). However, TEFL teaching is still problematic worldwide including Indonesia. Indonesian TEFL is seriously problematic because the expected levels of competencies are not adequately achieved. A major factor, teacher quality, is at issue. Even though the Government has provided models of training for its teachers, they have not been effective. This paper addresses this issue and proposes an innovative but cheaper mentoring system. This system also overcomes the shortcomings of the existing models of in-service training including its ad hoc nature, lack of practice and feedback, lack of the opportunity to upgrade poor English skills. The paper argues that the system can overcome these issues, and Indonesia is capable of running the system with its existing resources. The model could be adapted to address similar TEFL issues found elsewhere

The argument style in research article discussions to support research findings in language studies

The argument quality in a research article discussion (henceforth RAD) determines the quality of the article as a whole, and therefore this section must be written as convincingly as possible. However, authors in different disciplines such as Language Studies (LS) may address this section in a different argument style. This study is aimed at investigating how Indonesian writers in LS support their findings in their RADs. There were 40 RADs taken from four different Indonesian journals in LS; the articles were chosen from the latest volumes of the nationally accredited journals. This study used a genre analysis method in which the major source of data is a collection of texts as a product of language activity. The results show that the majority of Indonesian writers use Style 1 (interpreting the research findings or suggesting what the research findings mean), Style 2 (explaining or elaborating the research findings), Style-3 (stating the possible cause/s of the research findings), and Style 4 (illustrating or exemplifying the research findings) to support their research findings. However, unlike international authors, Indonesian writers do not relate their research findings with those of previous related studies; if they do so, it is to confirm the interpretation or explanation of their research results. The results of this study may help Indonesian authors in LS improve the quality of their RADs especially when writing articles in English to be submitted to an international journal

The First Bali Bombing 2002: ‘Why Did They Do It To Our Bali?

This paper constitutes some original research into a tragedy for many Westerners, with the instant deaths of nearly 90 Australians; as yet a largely neglected and so misunderstood example of a more localized jihad; and the musings of two Indonesian scholars long domiciled outside their native land who were able to conduct the most scholarly research into the event leading up to the bombing in Bali, Indonesian 2002. It presents a clarification of events leading to this tragedy and it seeks to explain to outside readers a brutal atrocity which was both shocking and bewildering

Perceptions of Indonesian multilingual scholars about preparing and publishing research manuscripts in international journals

There has been a great deal of interest in issues multilingual scholars (henceforth: MLS) have in trying to gain publication in international main-stream English language journals (IEJs). However, little research has been published on the experience of MLS using their perspective, particularly how they perceive their competence (knowledge and skills) to publish their research internationally. The purpose of this study was to fill this gap by investigating what they perceived as the factors that inhibited them from publishing in IEJs. This study mainly used a quantitative method, but the results were supplemented with interviews and focus group discussion with some of the participants in the survey. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) tool of the SPSS statistical programme was used to conduct two levels of analysis: the PCA and Confirmation Factorial Analysis (CFA). The key finding was that the most critical factor for the participants was not a lack of funds as widely reported in many previous studies, but lack of competence to face the challenges of preparing and publishing research article (RA) in IEJs, which had dampened self-confidence. The low self-confidence and two solutions, suggested by the participants, implicitly confirmed the key finding. The participants were aware of the various benefits of research article publication in IEJs, but they were not strong enough to overcome the critical factor. The implication is that policymakers should consider providing regular training for staff with adequate practice and feedback and introducing the subject to undergraduate or, at least, MA students before they embark on starting their research projects

The Argument Style in Research Article Discussions to Support Research Findings in Language Studies

The argument quality in the discussion section of research articles determines the quality of the article but authors often find it very difficult to write especially when writing it in a foreign language. This study is aimed at investigating how Indonesian authors in multi-disciplines as non-native speakers of English discuss their research results in their English RAs. Fifty English RAs written by Indonesian authors in multi-disciplines published in Indonesian-based journals were analysed on the ways the authors discuss their research results and justify their new knowledge claims. The results show that, like international authors, Indonesian authors in multi-disciplines consider statement of results (Move-2), reference to previous research (Move-4), explanation (Move-5), and exemplification (Move-6) conventional or obligatory. They also consider explanation of the findings (Strategy-2), illustrating or exemplifying the findings (Strategy-4), and relating the findings with those in previous studies obligatory or conventional. The implication of these findings is for teaching Indonesian young faculty members and postgraduate students in writing convincingly argumentative discussion sections when writing RAs in English for international journal publication by including necessary moves and strategies

Improving Students' Competence in the Thesis Defence Examination (TDE) in Two Universities in Aceh, Indonesia: Case study at Nanggroe University and Syiar University

The Thesis Defence Examination (TDE) is a vital step for students in many countries to complete their degree. The TDE is defined as a class of communicative events; and it is assumed that, to succeed in performing a specific genre, students should understand the elements of the genre and perform appropriately. Although in some countries, such as Australia, the TDE is not commonly practised, in other countries such as the USA, the UK and Indonesia, the TDE is necessary before students can graduate. In Indonesia, the issue of the poor performance of undergraduate students in their TDEs has been raised by academic communities: many students appear to be competent in their general English, but most of them perform poorly in their TDEs. This thesis will discuss this discrepancy and propose a possible solution

Factors hindering Indonesian lecturers from publishing articles in reputable international journals

The purpose of this study is to investigate the possible factors inhibiting the university lecturers or professors in Indonesia from publishing their research results in reputable international journals in English. The research used a mixed (quantitative and qualitative) method, employing a national survey and in-depth interviews with selected lecturers and researchers in five different universities in Indonesia (i.e., Bengkulu University, Padang State University, Makasar State University, Unika Atma Jaya University and Mataram University). The results show that three main factors have hindered the lecturers from submitting their articles to reputable international journals: lack of self-confidence on the quality of their own research and article, finding it very difficult and very time consuming to prepare an article in English and no adequate reward for those who can successfully publish in reputable international journals. However, the majority of them have a positive attitude toward international journal publication for their own benefits or for the sake of their institution.</p