Look at the three cover letters for job applications which you will find here. Cover letters are a genre within the general category of transactional written text.
a) What is the communicative purpose of the genre?
b) How many typical genre features can you identify? Think about:
- Content and organisation
- Layout
- Linguistic features including style. Which of these linguistic features are typical specifically of this genre, which ones are typical of written discourse in general, and which are typical of transactional letters in general?
Then scroll down for the suggested answer.
The Suggested Answer
Ø Thecommunicativepurpose:To persuade
Ø Thetext type: Persuasive
Ø The layout
Ø The contentandorganisationalstructureofthe content:
1. Each paragraph of the text covers a specific topic
2. Clear organisational progression from introduction – middle – conclusion :
a) Introduction: Where the writer saw the advertisement; plus an optional statementofsuitability and/or referenceto an enclosed CV
b) Middle: the applicant's current/pastexperienceanditsrelevancetothepost; reasonforwantingthenewpost
c) Conclusion:invitationtocontact;thanks
Various "moves" are evident within these three sections. The following analysis of the moves contained in the letters draws on Bhatia’s (1993) analysis of sales letters. In a job application letter the writer is effectively trying to“sell” him/herself, and not surprisingly there is a certain amount ofoverlap inthemovestructure.
- Establishingcredentials(iewhythewriter hastherighttoapply)–eg letter 1paras1+2.
- Introducingcandidature–eg letter1para3 sentence1
- Offering thecandidature–eg letter1para 3,sentences2 +3
- Essentialdetailing ofthecandidature–egletter1,para4
- Indicatingthevalueofthecandidature–egletter 1,para5
- Enclosing documents-eg letter1para.2
- Soliciting response-egletter1para.6
- Ending politely- eg letter1para.6
Ø Thetypicallinguisticfeatures of the genre include
1. Constantuseoffirstpersonsingular/secondpersonpersonalpronounsand possessive adjectives : I have researched your excellent record... ; I amattracted to Lewis and Holton by your recent rapid growth...; Please contact me ifyoushould require...
2. Predominanceofpresent tenseverbs(simple,continuousandperfect): ...thenewchallengeswhichIamseeking...;Thepositionrelatesclearlytomypracticalknowledgeandexperience;Ihaveseenyouradvertisement...
3. Useofadjectiveswithpositiveconnotations :excellent,superior,enthusiastic,meaningful,significant
Ø Typicalfeaturesofwrittendiscourseinclude:
1) Syntax: variation in sentence length and construction. Eg letter1, para 3: sentence1 = complex; sentence 2 = simple; sentence 3 =compound-complex.
Ø Typicallinguistic featuresoftransactional lettersinclude:
1) Style
a) use of semi formal lexis such as wish rather than want, andLatinate vocabulary – require, consideration, relate, concluded,fundamentaletc
b) useof fullformsratherthancontractions :Ihaveseen...Iam enclosing
2) Useof fixed lexical chunks, such asIlook forwardtohearingfromyou;withreferenceto...;Pleasedonothesitateto...