investigating evaluative strategies in blurbs of fiction: exploring the informative and promotional aspects

This study explored elements involved in the construction of online english fiction blurbs through the analysis of their promotional and informative moves and the attitudinal markers within these two moves. data were collected from 2014 goodreads awards nominees from multiple categories: fantasy, historical fiction, and so forth. valor’s framework (2005) provided a foundation for the study to investigate promotional and informative moves/functions. moreover, the use of the appraisal model allowed the discovery of the application of attitudinal markers in each of these moves. we found that blurbs can be categorised into three types: those with a single move, either promotional or informative, those incorporating the two moves, and those with a cyclic move order. moreover, despite differences in their use, the three attitudinal markers were typically present in both moves. the differences lie in the fact that positivity and appreciation are conspicuous in promotional moves and negativity and judgmental expressions are characteristic of informative moves. more can be gained from further in-depth studies in the area of appraisal and/or the study of blurbs.