Understanding the language of evaluation in examiners’ reports on doctoral theses

• Published in: Linguistics and education 2015-09, Vol.31, p.130-144
• Main Authors: Starfield, Sue, Paltridge, Brian, McMurtrie, Robert, Holbrook, Allyson, Bourke, Sid, Fairbairn, Hedy, Kiley, Margaret, Lovat, Terry
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Academic writing; Appraisal framework; Dissertations & theses; Doctoral examination; Evaluation; Genre; System functional linguistics
• ISSN: 0898-5898; 1873-1864
• DOI: 10.1016/j.linged.2015.06.004

•This paper looks at examiners’ reports on doctoral theses, a relatively unexplored genre.•Little work has been done on how the language of evaluation constructs meanings in these reports.•The study draws on Martin and White's (2005) appraisal framework to examine 142 examiners’ reports.•The theses are appreciated in the reports in line with the university's examination criteria.•The candidate is often, however, judged and the examiner is affected in the reports as well. Despite their high stakes nature, examiners’ reports on doctoral theses are a relatively unexplored genre. Very little work has been done, further, on how evaluative language constructs meanings in the reports. To better understand the evaluative language used in the reports, this study analyses the examination criteria established by a university in New Zealand and draws on the appraisal framework to examine 142 examiners’ reports from that institution. We explore the examiners’ reports through the generalised systems of attitude and engagement and extend the framework by suggesting more delicate options within appreciation and judgement and introduce two new concepts, covert judgement and embedded judgement. While it is primarily the thesis that is appreciated in the reports, in line with the university's examination criteria, it is often the case that the candidate is also judged and the examiner is affected.