The IMRaD paper format is extremely helpful to understanding the Science “Discourse” that James Gee describes. Discourses are the ways of being, doing, believing, valuing and saying that allow one to be a part of a group. James Gee discusses that, “… in order to gain entry into a chosen Discourse one must have the knowledge of the practices of that Discourse.” The knowledge, or the practices, of a Discourse include how to act, talk, walk and do things so one is recognized and accepted within the Discourse. Nair and Nair also talk about these practices on how an article should look and read.
The IMRaD Cheat Sheet is an extremely helpful tool for understanding the “Discourse” of science. Discourses are James Gee’s version of social groups where members say, do, be, believe and value the same things. In order for one to join one of these Discourses they must have what Gee calls an “apprenticeship” into the Discourse. This apprenticeship will teach one how and what to do, in other words, the practices of a particular Discourse in order to be recognized and accepted. The IMRaD Cheat Sheet helps one understand the practices needed to write and read a scientific paper so that they can be entered into the Discourse.
