Analysing coherence in upper-intermediate learner writing
-
Barbara Schiftner
Abstract
Previous studies on coherence and cohesion in learner writing indicate that the relationship between the two is not as straightforward as teaching practice seems to suggest. To allow for a meaning-focused analysis of coherence in learner writing, this paper presents a multi-perspective approach which incorporates (1) holistic coherence ratings, (2) logical relations which exist between parts of a text, and (3) cohesive elements. The focus of this paper is on the use of Rhetorical Structure Theory (RST) for the analysis of logical relations in learner writing. A corpus of 20 learner essays is analysed to examine the applicability of RST for the description of coherence structures in learner writing.
Abstract
Previous studies on coherence and cohesion in learner writing indicate that the relationship between the two is not as straightforward as teaching practice seems to suggest. To allow for a meaning-focused analysis of coherence in learner writing, this paper presents a multi-perspective approach which incorporates (1) holistic coherence ratings, (2) logical relations which exist between parts of a text, and (3) cohesive elements. The focus of this paper is on the use of Rhetorical Structure Theory (RST) for the analysis of logical relations in learner writing. A corpus of 20 learner essays is analysed to examine the applicability of RST for the description of coherence structures in learner writing.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
-
Section 1. Introduction
- Introduction 3
- Learner corpora 9
-
Section 2. Compilation, annotation and exchangeability of learner corpus data
- Developing corpus interoperability for phonetic investigation of learner corpora 33
- Learner corpora and second language acquisition 65
- Competing target hypotheses in the Falko corpus 101
-
Section 3. Automatic approaches to the identification of learner language features in learner corpus data
- Using learner corpora for automatic error detection and correction 127
- Automatic suprasegmental parameter extraction in learner corpora 151
- Criterial feature extraction using parallel learner corpora and machine learning 169
-
Section 4. Analysis of learner corpus data
- Phonological acquisition in the French-English interlanguage 207
- Prosody in a contrastive learner corpus 227
- A corpus-based comparison of syntactic complexity in NNS and NS university students’ writing 249
- Analysing coherence in upper-intermediate learner writing 265
- Statistical tests for the analysis of learner corpus data 287
- Index 311
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
-
Section 1. Introduction
- Introduction 3
- Learner corpora 9
-
Section 2. Compilation, annotation and exchangeability of learner corpus data
- Developing corpus interoperability for phonetic investigation of learner corpora 33
- Learner corpora and second language acquisition 65
- Competing target hypotheses in the Falko corpus 101
-
Section 3. Automatic approaches to the identification of learner language features in learner corpus data
- Using learner corpora for automatic error detection and correction 127
- Automatic suprasegmental parameter extraction in learner corpora 151
- Criterial feature extraction using parallel learner corpora and machine learning 169
-
Section 4. Analysis of learner corpus data
- Phonological acquisition in the French-English interlanguage 207
- Prosody in a contrastive learner corpus 227
- A corpus-based comparison of syntactic complexity in NNS and NS university students’ writing 249
- Analysing coherence in upper-intermediate learner writing 265
- Statistical tests for the analysis of learner corpus data 287
- Index 311
