Based on metadiscourse theory and CARS model postulated by Swales,this study makes a comparative metadiscoursal analysis of RA introductions in management and chemistry,aiming at the similarities and differences between soft and hard sciences from the perspective of communicative purposes.It is found that the distributions of interactional metadiscoursal resources in RA moves in both disciplines demonstrate a strong correlation while metadiscoursal resources in management RA introductions outnumber its chemistry counterpart except boosters.The correlation and differences can be well explained by the overt communicative purposes realized by their similar generic structures and covert ones respectively achieved and shaped by their disciplinarities.