Evaluative Language in U.S. Presidential Media Coverage: An Appraisal Analysis and Its Pedagogical Implications for ELT

Background and Aim: This study explores how two major U.S. newspapers, The Washington Post and The New York Times, utilized evaluative language to assess U.S. presidential candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump during the 2024 election campaign. Addressing a gap in media bias research within political discourse through the use of appraisal analysis, the study focuses on the judgment of social esteem and social sanction, which investigate how the candidates were portrayed, contributing to discussions on media portrayals that shape public perception. Materials and Methods: Appraisal theory was applied to analyze 35 selected articles from both online newspapers in a span of six months from January to June 2024, specifically examining evaluative language related to social esteem and social sanction. This qualitative study aimed to identify patterns in how each candidate was represented, particularly regarding their leadership, policies, and personal attributes. Results: The findings indicate that both newspapers generally portrayed Biden positively in terms of social esteem, emphasizing his leadership experience, especially in foreign policy. However, as the campaign progressed, negative judgments related to social sanction surfaced, particularly critiquing Biden's age and his handling of domestic issues like immigration. Trump, on the other hand, was portrayed negatively in both newspapers, with an emphasis on social sanction due to his rhetoric and behavior on immigration. Despite this, The Washington Post occasionally acknowledged Trump’s resilience, offering him positive evaluations in terms of social esteem. Conclusion: The study contributes to the field of discourse analysis and provides practical implications for English Language Teaching (ELT), highlighting the importance of media critical literacy. Integrating appraisal theory in ELT classrooms can enhance students' analytical skills and awareness of media framing, encouraging a deeper understanding of evaluative language in political discourse.