ENEM 1000-score essays: an analysis of textual structure considering cultural capital

Abstract This research had the general objective of explaining how Brazil’s National High School Exam (ENEM) essay and scoring criteria expose and exacerbate social inequalities. Specifically, the study aimed to demonstrate how writing is affected by class relations, relate the ENEM essay scoring criteria to social inequalities, and discuss — based on the theories of Bourdieu and Bernstein — how competencies highlight such inequalities. The hypothesis proposes that the essay promotes inequalities among ENEM applicants. The analysis focused on the 2023 Participant Booklet, which contains ten essays that achieved the highest score in 2022. As for methodology, Content Analysis was employed to analyze the items, with the results showing an average of 15 argumentative operators and connectives per essay. As for sociocultural repertoire, the texts predominantly used scientific sources, with twelve personalities supporting the arguments of applicants.