In research Methods sections, the past tense is conventionally used. The verbs in the Methods section often deviate from the norm; Present-tensed verbs occasionally appear in the section. Through a preliminary analysis of Methods sections from 10 published journal articles, this study argues that verbs in the Methods section go exceptional when a certain concept is consistently involved. The characterization ‘coincidence in accessibility to information’ turns out to account for present-tensed verbs in the Methods section. Another supplementary analysis of Methods sections from 10 master's theses suggests student writers' uncertainty of the tense usage in the rhetorical section of Methods. The characterization proposed here may contribute to student writers' confident use of the present tense in research Methods sections.

• Kyong-Yeon Park(Gyeongsang National University)