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Chinese MA Student Writers’ Identity Construction in Citation Practices1

  • Qingrong Liu

    Qingrong Liu is a lecturer at the English Department of Wuhan University. She received her Ph.D. degree in applied linguistics. Her research efforts have focused on EAP, ESP, and corpus-based discourse analysis

    and Liming Deng

    Liming Deng (the corresponding author) is a professor at the English Department of Wuhan University. Her main research efforts have focused on discourse studies, second language writing, and EAP.

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Published/Copyright: December 10, 2019
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Abstract

Based on Burgess and Ivanič’s (2010) framework of the discoursal construction of writer identity, this paper explores the interaction between citation practices and identity construction in Chinese EFL learners’ MA thesis writing. A mixed approach of textual analysis and interviews was adopted to examine the citation features of MA theses and the identities Chinese EFL learners constructed through citation selection. It was found that students’ selection of citations reflects their linguistic identity, academic and disciplinary identity, as well as novice identity. Their citation practices project different discursive selves to readers. By adjusting the number and relevance of references, they intend to construct a knowledgeable and credible self. The use of ineffective citations and references not only projects an unfavorable impression on readers but reflects a lack of authorial identity. This study has significant implications for the teaching of academic English and the supervision of thesis writing.


1 This article is supported by China National Social Sciences Grant entitled “A Genre-based Study of the Dynamic Interdiscursive System in Chinese and English Professional Discourse” (NO. 17BYY033).


About the authors

Qingrong Liu

Qingrong Liu is a lecturer at the English Department of Wuhan University. She received her Ph.D. degree in applied linguistics. Her research efforts have focused on EAP, ESP, and corpus-based discourse analysis

Liming Deng

Liming Deng (the corresponding author) is a professor at the English Department of Wuhan University. Her main research efforts have focused on discourse studies, second language writing, and EAP.

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Published Online: 2019-12-10
Published in Print: 2019-09-25

© 2019 FLTRP, Walter de Gruyter, Cultural and Education Section British Embassy

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