<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The genre system of grant application has gained attention from researchers in Applied Linguistics, Discourse Studies, and Higher Education. However, the grant recommendation letter (GRL), also known as the “letter of support”, has been understudied in this system. To address this gap, this study examined the persuasive strategies used in GRLs. Using Aristotle’s Theory of Persuasion and a qualitative inductive discourse analysis, we analysed 90 GRLS. The findings revealed that GRLs employ different frequencies of ethos, logos, and pathos to influence the grant committee. The writers primarily emphasised rational justifications for the applicant’s qualifications, while also demonstrating ethos through appropriate personal traits. Personal pronouns were used to perform discursive functions as well. Based on the findings, we offer implications for pedagogy and further research on GRLs.</p>
</abstract>

The genre system of grant application has gained attention from researchers in Applied Linguistics, Discourse Studies, and Higher Education. However, the grant recommendation letter (GRL), also known as the “letter of support”, has been understudied in this system. To address this gap, this study examined the persuasive strategies used in GRLs. Using Aristotle’s Theory of Persuasion and a qualitative inductive discourse analysis, we analysed 90 GRLS. The findings revealed that GRLs employ different frequencies of ethos, logos, and pathos to influence the grant committee. The writers primarily emphasised rational justifications for the applicant’s qualifications, while also demonstrating ethos through appropriate personal traits. Personal pronouns were used to perform discursive functions as well. Based on the findings, we offer implications for pedagogy and further research on GRLs.

Persuasive strategies in grant recommendation letters written by senior faculty in a Ghanaian university

ExELL

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The genre system of grant application has gained attention from researchers in Applied Linguistics, Discourse Studies, and Higher Education. However, the grant...

Persuasive strategies in grant recommendation letters written by senior faculty in a Ghanaian university

Published Online: Dec 06, 2023

Page range: 133 - 156

Received: Jul 19, 2023

Accepted: Nov 01, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/exell-2023-0009

Keywords
application for grants, graduate education, logos, persuasion, personal pronouns

© 2023 Joseph Benjamin Archibald Afful et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Persuasive strategies in grant recommendation letters written by senior faculty in a Ghanaian university

Published Online: Dec 06, 2023

Page range: 133 - 156

Received: Jul 19, 2023

Accepted: Nov 01, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/exell-2023-0009

Keywordsapplication for grants, graduate education, logos, persuasion, personal pronouns

© 2023 Joseph Benjamin Archibald Afful et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
application for grants, graduate education, logos, persuasion, personal pronouns