Rhetorical move-step analysis

Rhetorical move-step analysis is a text analytical approach that is used to investigate the organizational and rhetorical structures of community genre practices. Move-step analysis has been used widely across the field of applied linguistics, particularly within the domain of second language (L2) writing, typically as a means of deconstructing and profiling the discourse practices of academic or professional communities. As such, the current chapter provides readers with an overview of and introduction to rhetorical move-step analysis and its use in genre-based L2 writing research. This chapter discusses the history of the analysis, typical research questions addressed through use of the method, and a detailed account of the common steps involved in its use. This chapter also showcases several exemplary studies, highlighting features of those studies' designs. Finally, the chapter closes with suggestions for researchers who intend to adopt move-step analysis in the future.