Argument not optional: The language of alternatives and recommendations in the case analysis genre

• DOI: 10.1016/j.esp.2022.10.003
• Publication Date: 2022-11-10T11:17:01Z
• Authors: Silvia Pessoa; Thomas D. Mitchell; María Pía Gómez-L...
• Keywords: Argument (complex analysis); Genre Analysis; Section (typography); Discipline; Academic Writing; Position (finance)

The case analysis is a common assignment in business courses that requires students to use their disciplinary knowledge identify company's problems and propose logical recommendations solve them (Gardner, 2012; Nathan, 2013). When writing the section of analysis, are often required discuss alternatives preferred recommendation as part argument for it. Despite central importance writing, there limited research on how effectively help write In this paper, we SFL-based genre analyze incorporated rejected proposal an Organizational Behavior (OB) course at American university's branch campus Middle East. Unlike other focuses only exemplar or successful student (e.g., 2016; Nesi & Gardner, Szenes, 2017, 2021), show range representative text patterns, from who neglected take position recommendation, supported clear position. Our has implications genres where need maintain consistent stance while arguing solution among alternatives.