Table 6 Functional Moves of the SoP corpora

Move 1: Introduction (106/120)

17

18

20

16

20

 Step 1-A: Generalization/Attention catcher

8

9

5

10

8

 Step 1-B: Background

12

8

10

10

13

 Step 1-C: Goals or decisions to applying

6

10

11

10

9

Move 2: Establishing credential (120/120)

20

20

20

20

20

 Step 2-A: Education background

20

17

15

17

18

 Step 2-B: Research experience

9

11

11

17

20

 Step 2-C: Work experience

12

14

10

9

6

 Step 2-D: Personal attributes

5

7

6

10

1

 Step 2-E: Other experience

13

17

13

8

6

Move 3: Reasons for applying (117/120)

20

20

20

19

18

 Step 3-A: Gap in applicant background

9

9

6

7

3

 Step 3-B: Positive gains

11

16

9

10

4

 Step 3-C: Program/university attributes

17

12

17

16

17

 Step 3-D: Disciplinary and research reasons

9

7

11

13

15

Move 4: Conclusion (105/120)

17

18

19

19

16

 Step 4-A: Goals/predictions of future

7

10

11

10

9

 Step 4-B: Self-evaluation

8

9

7

13

6

 Step 4-C: Final appeal

13

9

11

5

10