Modalization in Amateur Case Studies

In this section, the focus of analysis will be on the recorded choices the amateur writers made to express modalization in case studies.

Figure 4.6 shows that, as with the expert writers, the median value modalization was most frequently used in amateur case studies with a total of 20 instances (48.78%). The least frequently used was high value modalization with 5 instances (12.20%). The frequency of the median value was between (N=16, 39.02%).

Figure 4.6 Values of modalization in amateur case studies

Analysis of the frequency of use of orientations (see Table 4.14, below) shows a similar pattern to that recorded in amateur essays, with the use of the subjective implicit orientation making up more than half of all instances of modalization. This is followed by the low recorded use of the subjective explicit and objective implicit orientations, both of which record the same rate of frequency (N=7; 17.07%). Once again, the objective explicit orientation is the least frequently used orientation of the four, despite it being recorded with the highest number of instances in the expression of modalization in the expert case studies.

Table 4.14 Frequency of orientations of modalization in amateur case studies

Orientation subjective explicit subjective implicit objective implicit objective explicit Total N 7 24 7 3 41 (%) (17.07%) (58.54%) (17.07%) (7.32%) (100.00%)

The data presented above show that the amateur writers prefer to use high levels of subjectivity in their expressions of modalization in case studies and combine them with low and median values. This suggests that, at this level of analysis, the amateur writers are following a similar line of expression adopted when writing essays, and do not appear to make much of a distinction between essays and case studies in how they prefer to express themselves. The only noticeable difference is in the minor transfer of preference between low and median values, showing a slight increase in low value expressions, and a corresponding

Low N=20 48.78% Median N=16 39.02% High N=5 12.20%

slight decrease in median value expression, resulting in the amateur writers slightly increasing their use of expressions with lower modal commitment.

Intersecting the use of value and orientation, and colour coding them accordingly presents the results shown in Table 4.15(a), and highlights that three value-orientation pairs are dominant in their presence:

low value subjective implicit (N=12, 29.27%) median value subjective implicit (N=12, 29.27%) low value subjective explicit (N=6, 14.65%)

The raw figures emphasise the scarcity of examples of modalization that exist in the amateur case studies, however, they show that the three value-orientation pairs identified at the outer range of over-use (>5%) when compared with percentage frequencies of the corresponding modal matrix for expert case studies. Under-use, in the outer range (>5%), is recorded with three value-orientation pairs: low value objective implicit and median value objective explicit, both with two instances each (4.88%), and low value objective explicit with no instances recorded at all. The remaining pairs fall within the 1-5% difference and therefore mostly align with the expert writer results. Within the remaining value-orientation pairs, there are no recorded instances of either median value subjective explicit or high value subjective implicit.

Table 4.15(a) Instances of modalization in amateur case studies according to orientation and value, and colour-coded for over- and under-use

AMATEUR CASE STUDIES

INSTANCES OF MODALIZATION TOTAL

LOW MEDIAN HIGH (Orientations)

N % N % N % N % Subjective Explicit _{6 14.63% 0 0.00% 1 2.44% 7 17.07%} Subjective Implicit _{12 29.27% 12 29.27% 0 0.00% 24 58.54%} Objective Implicit _{2 4.88% 2 4.88% 3 7.32% 7 17.07%} Objective Explicit _{0 0.00% 2 4.88% 1 2.44% 3 7.32%} TOTAL (Values) N, % 20 48.78% 16 39.02% 5 12.20% 41 100.00%

KEY: Over-use 1-5% difference No difference (1% tolerance) Under-use 1-5% difference

Table 4.15(b) summarises the spread of value-orientation pairs on a cline of difference and shows that most of the pairs are in the outer ranges of under- and over-use.

Table 4.15(b) Summary of over- and under-use of modalization in amateur case studies

Over-use No difference Under-use

>5% 1-5% Within 1% tolerance 1-5% >5%

Low Subjective Implicit High Subjective Explicit N.A. Med Objective Implicit Low Objective Implicit Med Subjective Implicit High Objective Implicit Med Objective Explicit Low Subjective Explicit Med Subjective Explicit Low Objective Explicit Low Objective Implicit High Subjective Implicit

The low value subjective implicit orientations involve the use of the modal verbs may (53), might (54) and could (55) and are used for meanings of probability (possibility/weak speculation). When these modal verbs are used by the amateur writers in modalizing their writing, they are used for speculation in the future.

(53) This may lead to fail of the company. [A-CS07-026]

(54) Moreover, the big amount of investment might make company suffer from finance problems. [A-CS02-018]

(55) This choice could be less cost and easier than the previous one. [A-CS05-016] Unlike in the expert case studies, there is no variation for meanings in the past and present, and certainly no additional complexity by mixing temporality within the same sentence. Despite modulating their assertions with a greater proportion of low value commitment, the amateur writers appear to avoid using more complex constructions. This could be the result of a deficit in knowledge of how to express more complex modality. It could also be the result of the assessment format which requires the students on the pre-sessional programme to write their texts in timed conditions, or the texts’ prompts (see Appendix E) which do not provide the opportunities for the amateur writers to demonstrate their writing repertoire.

In addition to the low subjective implicit orientation, the amateur writers also use the stronger median variant in equal frequency, using the modal verbs will (56) and would (57) to express probability.

(56) These will help the company to gain highest market share if they put the right man into the right job. [A-CS05-031]

Using median level orientations implies that the writer is confident of the stance they wish to convey; they feel that the assertion is ‘probable’. As with essays, the amateur writers frequently actualise will within conditional if sentences reinforcing the probable nature of the assertions.

Low value subjective explicit is expressed through the use of highly personalised constructions that detail the writers’ personal opinion. This is achieved through the use of verbal projections: my suggestion is that (58), in my point of view (59) and I think (60).

(58) My suggestion for these problems is that Morris must spend his time to contact with his staff more than ever he was. [A-CS03-021]

(59) In my point of view, the company should bring Jones back due to his style is democratic and this had made his colleagues happy when they were working. [A-CS03- 028]

(60) In addition, I think happy workers could produces better performance compare with gloomy workers. [A-CS03-029]

Again, this may reflect the nature of the assessment brief, which asks writers to evaluate the business conditions of a company and offer advice for improvements, thus empowering them to abandon objectivity. This belief is reinforced by the use of modulation within all of the examples above which range from strong external obligation (must) in (58), median value advice (should) in (59), and low value ability (could) in (60).

Additionally, Table 4.15(a) also highlighted over-use the high value objective implicit. Although not frequently used in terms of raw numbers, it is an important element for consideration, in that, it contrasts between the types of writers. The objective implicit orientation is used with low value commitment in the expert case studies, showing that they adopt a softer, more tentative approach in taking a stance. The amateur writers, on the other hand, show a continued preference for higher value orientations. Within the three examples identified, the high value objective implicit is achieved through the use of the adverbial in fact (61) to express probability, and the modal adjuncts always (62) and never (63) to express usuality. Indeed, usuality is only expressed through the objective implicit orientation.

(61) In fact, the club structure is suit for those small organizations. [A-CS06-015]

(63) According to Terry Williams, Manager of the largest bottling plant “We hardly ever see him. Cliff Jones was always around. His office door was never closed.” [A-CS03- 019]

In (63), the use of never is presented within a direct quotation and is one of the few instances of evidentiality where the writer substitutes their own voice for someone else’s.