Thesis
A genre analysis of Amazon.com "most helpful" product reviews
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2012
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/100272
Abstract
This thesis draws from genre theory in order to present an analysis and application of one particular genre. Drawing from the theoretical background of English for Specific Purposes (ESP), which itself is rooted in the larger field of applied linguistics, I develop a framework for a systematic analysis of Amazon.com "most helpful" product reviews: reviews that are designated as the most popular reviews for particular products. By examining an online genre that is neither professional nor academic, I stretch the traditional boundaries of ESP-based genre analysis and demonstrate how genre analysis may help to gain insight into the shared goals and values of the community of people that author and read Amazon.com product reviews. I also provide a pedagogical application of Amazon.com "most helpful" product reviews. By situating the results of my analysis within the framework of genre-based writing instruction, a pedagogy designed for second-language (L2) writing students, I briefly discuss the history and benefits of this pedagogy for use in a L2 writing class and how the genre of Amazon.com product reviews can be used in such a classroom.
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Details
- Title
- A genre analysis of Amazon.com "most helpful" product reviews
- Creators
- Stephen C. Skalicky
- Contributors
- Nancy Bell (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- English, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525051701842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis