Genre Analysis - Steps for Genre Analysis - How to Analyze Genre of Any Given Text

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𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬 - 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬 - 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐳𝐞 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐧𝐲 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐱𝐭
Bhatia ( 1993 ) and Bawarshi and Reiff ( 2010 ) present steps for carrying out the analysis of genres, in their case written genres. It is not necessary to go through all the stages that they list, nor in the order in which they are presented. For example, we may decide to take a ‘text-first’ or a ‘context-first’ approach to the analysis of a particular genre (Flowerdew 2002 , 2011 ). That is, we may decide to start by looking at typical discourse patterns in the texts we are interested in (a text-first approach), or we may decide to start with an examination of the context of the texts we want to investigate (a context-first approach). The steps, then, should be used flexibly and selectively depending on the starting point of the analysis, the purpose of the analysis, the aspect of the genre that we want to focus on and the level of prior knowledge we already have of the particular genre.

The first step, however, is to collect samples of the genre you are interested in. Bhatia suggests taking a few randomly chosen texts for exploratory investigation, a single typical text for detailed analysis, or a larger sample of texts if we wish to investigate a few specified features. Clearly, the more samples you can collect of the genre, however, the better you will be able to identify typical features of the genre.

The next step is to consider what is already known about the particular genre. This includes knowledge of the setting in which it occurs as well as any conventions that are typically associated with the genre. For information on this, we can go to existing literature such as guidebooks and manuals as well as seek practitioner advice on the particular genre. It is also helpful to look at what analyses have already been carried out of the particular genre, or other related genres, by looking at research articles or books on the topic.

We next need to refine the analysis by defining the speaker or writer of the text, the audience of the text and their relationship with each other. That is, who uses the genre, who writes in the genre, who reads the genre and what roles the readers perform as they read the text.

We also need to consider the goal, or purpose, of the texts. That is, why do writers write this genre, why do readers read it and what purpose does the genre have for the people who use it?

A further important consideration is typical discourse patterns for the genre. That is, how are the texts typically organized, how are they typically presented in terms of layout and format and what are some language features that typically re-occur in the particular genre?

Equally, what do people need to know to take part in the genre, and what view of the world does the text assume of its readers? That is, what values, beliefs and assumptions are assumed or revealed by the particular genre (Bawarshi and Reiff 2010 )? We should also think about the networks of texts that surround the genre, and to what extent knowledge of these is important in order be able to write or make sense of a particular genre.