RESPONSE TO SWALES & FEAK (pp.57-76).

Swales and Feak turn their attention to the argumentative and evaluative nature of problem-solution texts. Among others they discuss the use of verbs and indirect questions in constructing problem-solution texts. Of course, what is implied by the ‘problem-solution’ name is the creation of tension followed by the release of tension through rhetorical process. This can be related to the need for creating urgency (alluded to in the previous blog as ‘creating a hook’), and needs to be incorporated into the text from the outset. The problem is the need in existence and the solution is the manner in which that need is met. How this tension is resolved (if ever, since some good research is bound to end unresolved leading to more questions) can be thought of by drawing a parallel between the text between the introduction and conclusion as a journey. And when this tension eventually surfaces in the interested question of your reader – where is this going to end? – the research work validates itself as relevant.