ABSTRACT
Chapter 7 discusses motivational scaffolding, constituted by positive politeness strategies intended to generate and support rapport and solidarity and to build personal connections and goodwill between tutors and student writers. Showing concern (formulaic expressions such a “Do you understand?” and nonformulaic versions that also check understanding) was the fourth most frequently occurring strategy in our study and the most frequent motivational scaffolding strategy. Tutors also used praise fairly frequently. Reinforcing ownership and control, being optimistic or using humor, and showing empathy or sympathy were less frequent.
