Words that matter : a cross-disciplinary investigation of importance markers in 3MT presentations

Abstract

Importance markers are essential rhetorical tools for justifying claims, engaging audiences, and highlighting research contributions. However, their deployment in interdisciplinary, high-stakes genres such as the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) remains underexplored. Grounded in frame semantics, this study introduces the Importance Frame, a conceptual framework designed to capture the cognitive dimensions of importance markers. It comprises five key frame elements, namely Factor, Explanation, Degree, Undertaking, and Stakeholder, each with its own subcategories. Analyzing a corpus of 120 award-winning 3MT presentations across hard and soft disciplines, the study reveals notable disciplinary variations. Hard-discipline presenters employ importance markers more frequently, offering explicit explanations and attaching importance to systemic or functional roles central to their research. Conversely, soft-discipline presenters adopt a more implicit approach, emphasizing situational or contextual relevance. Additionally, hard-discipline presenters are more likely to position the general public as key stakeholders, strategically highlighting the societal impact and broader relevance of their research. By uncovering how epistemological traditions and audience expectations shape rhetorical choices, this study advances our understanding of interdisciplinary academic communication. It also has implications for pedagogical efforts to equip graduate researchers with effective rhetorical tools for articulating the significance of their work in time-constrained academic genres or contexts.