Chapter 3.1 A Multi-Dimensional analysis of essay writing
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Scott A. Crossley
Abstract
This study applied the Multi-Dimensional analysis used by Biber (1988) to examine the functional parameters of essays. Co-occurrence patterns were identified within an essay corpus (n = 1529) using linguistic indices provided by Coh-Metrix. These patterns were used to identify essay groups that shared features based upon situational parameters. Results revealed that the linguistic features reliably co-occurred according to the parameters. Namely, four dimensions were interpreted and associated with essay quality, prompt, and grade level. Confirmatory analyses revealed that the dimensions reliably distinguished among the parameters. Results provide insight into the situational parameters that affect writing, and the extent to which essays vary among and between themselves. The results have important implications for composition pedagogy, writing assessment, and writing theory.
Abstract
This study applied the Multi-Dimensional analysis used by Biber (1988) to examine the functional parameters of essays. Co-occurrence patterns were identified within an essay corpus (n = 1529) using linguistic indices provided by Coh-Metrix. These patterns were used to identify essay groups that shared features based upon situational parameters. Results revealed that the linguistic features reliably co-occurred according to the parameters. Namely, four dimensions were interpreted and associated with essay quality, prompt, and grade level. Confirmatory analyses revealed that the dimensions reliably distinguished among the parameters. Results provide insight into the situational parameters that affect writing, and the extent to which essays vary among and between themselves. The results have important implications for composition pedagogy, writing assessment, and writing theory.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- List of contributors ix
- Preface xi
- Acknowledgments xiii
- Introduction xv
- Opening. Multi-Dimensional analysis xxix
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1. Multi-Dimensional Analysis and synchronic analyses
- Chapter 1.1 A Multi-Dimensional analysis of regional variation in American English 3
- Chapter 1.2 Dimensions of register variation in Brazilian Portuguese 35
- Chapter 1.3 25 years later 81
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2. Multi-Dimensional Analysis and diachronic analyses
- Chapter 2.1 Dimensions of variation in North American movies 109
- Chapter 2.2 Multi-Dimensional analysis of pop songs 149
- Chapter 2.3 Dimensions of variation in TIME magazine 177
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3. Multi-Dimensional Analysis and language learning
- Chapter 3.1 A Multi-Dimensional analysis of essay writing 197
- Chapter 3.2 A Multi-Dimensional analysis of advanced written L2 Spanish 239
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4. Multi-Dimensional Analysis: exploring the methodology
- Chapter 4.1 Expanding Multi-Dimensional analysis with qualitative research techniques 273
- Chapter 4.2 Conducting Multi-Dimensional analysis using SPSS 297
- Appendix 317
- Name index 323
- Subject index 325
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- List of contributors ix
- Preface xi
- Acknowledgments xiii
- Introduction xv
- Opening. Multi-Dimensional analysis xxix
-
1. Multi-Dimensional Analysis and synchronic analyses
- Chapter 1.1 A Multi-Dimensional analysis of regional variation in American English 3
- Chapter 1.2 Dimensions of register variation in Brazilian Portuguese 35
- Chapter 1.3 25 years later 81
-
2. Multi-Dimensional Analysis and diachronic analyses
- Chapter 2.1 Dimensions of variation in North American movies 109
- Chapter 2.2 Multi-Dimensional analysis of pop songs 149
- Chapter 2.3 Dimensions of variation in TIME magazine 177
-
3. Multi-Dimensional Analysis and language learning
- Chapter 3.1 A Multi-Dimensional analysis of essay writing 197
- Chapter 3.2 A Multi-Dimensional analysis of advanced written L2 Spanish 239
-
4. Multi-Dimensional Analysis: exploring the methodology
- Chapter 4.1 Expanding Multi-Dimensional analysis with qualitative research techniques 273
- Chapter 4.2 Conducting Multi-Dimensional analysis using SPSS 297
- Appendix 317
- Name index 323
- Subject index 325
