<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

Data publikacji: 06 gru 2023

Zakres stron: 133 - 156

Otrzymano: 19 lip 2023

Przyjęty: 01 lis 2023

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

Słowa kluczowe
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

Data publikacji: 06 gru 2023

Zakres stron: 133 - 156

Otrzymano: 19 lip 2023

Przyjęty: 01 lis 2023

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

Słowa kluczoweapplication 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.

Słowa kluczowe
application for grants, graduate education, logos, persuasion, personal pronouns