A genre analysis of Social Stories for individuals with autism spectrum disorders.

The article focuses on a genre analysis of Social Stories™, a behavioral intervention tool developed by Carol Gray to support individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in improving social cognition and skills. Using move analysis and genre theory, the study examines 100 Chinese-language Social Stories™ to identify their move structure, communicative purposes, and rhetorical features, revealing that these stories combine informative and instructional discourse rather than following a traditional narrative form. The analysis identifies a typical structure comprising titling, introducing (illustrating thoughts, emotions, and social circumstances; specifying conventional social practices), advising (proposing social skills and/or reactions; telling positive outcomes), and an optional appraising side move, each with distinct linguistic and pragmatic characteristics. This move-based framework aims to clarify and supplement Gray's original guidelines, which users often find difficult to apply, thereby enhancing the teaching and composition of Social Stories™ by healthcare professionals, educators, and caregivers. The study also highlights the cultural specificity of Social Stories™ and suggests further comparative research across languages and contexts.