Structural Patterns and Communicative Functions in Goodbye Mr. Chips: A Genre-Based Analysis

Abstract

This study analyzes the structural patterns and communicative functions in Goodbye Mr. Chips by James Hilton, a prescribed text in English (Book 3) in government colleges in Punjab, Pakistan, using White and Makki’s (2016) framework. Academic textbooks play an important role in student success, necessitating careful linguistic selection to engage readers. Employing a qualitative approach, the study examines how structural elements contribute to character development, plot progression, and thematic exploration. Findings reveal that specific narrative patterns enhance communicative effectiveness, offering pedagogical insights for literature instruction. The study recommends further genre-based analyses of academic texts and suggests integrating structural analysis into teaching methodologies to improve students' critical reading skills. Curriculum designers may also benefit from these findings when selecting literary texts for English courses.