Authors use reasons and textual evidence to support their claims in research articles primarily for the following reasons:
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To clarify the researchers' claim: Providing reasons and evidence helps to make the claim clearer and more understandable to readers, allowing them to see the basis for the author's argument.
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To explain why they structure their study the way they do: By supporting their claims with evidence, authors can justify their methodological choices and illustrate how their research design supports their conclusions.
The other options, "to show the order they used when conducting their research" and "to state their personal opinion," are not typically reasons for providing evidence and reasoning in academic writing. Academic articles focus on objective evidence rather than personal opinions.