Exploring the rhetorical structure of written personal narratives: A move analysis of Persian and English narratives

The present study aimed to investigate the rhetorical structure of written personal narratives in English and Persian. Three types of discourse communities (native Persian speakers, native English speakers, and Iranian EFL learners) were asked to write their personal narratives. The collected narratives were analyzed to elicit their rhetorical structures and especially their moves and steps. The Biber, Upton and Connor (2007) model was used as the theoretical framework for the analysis. The findings showed that the written narratives across the three groups included the same rhetorical moves which comprised (1) introducing the story, (2) sequencing the order of events, (3) resolution, and (4) ending the story. The apparent differences in rhetorical steps were the outcome of social, cultural, and religious factors. It was concluded that EFL learners need explicit instruction to master native English rhetorical moves and steps.