Rhetorical structure analysis of prepared speeches and argumentative essays by Chinese advanced English learners

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-240
Author(s):  
Yuemin Wang ◽  
Hongyun Wu ◽  
Gang Cui
Keyword(s):  
English Learners ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Structure Theory ◽  
Rhetorical Situation ◽  
Rhetorical Structure ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Argumentative Essays ◽  
Rhetorical Structures

AbstractThis study focuses on the interrelationship between modes of argumentation and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ rhetorical strategies, by adopting the analytical framework of Rhetorical Structure Theory (RST) to produce reliable analyses of rhetorical structures of two most frequently required tasks in the Chinese context. The sample texts consist of 20 prepared speeches and 20 argumentative essays, both written by Chinese advanced EFL learners. The findings reveal that: (1) the essays favor a more direct structure with central units at the beginning while the speeches favor a more indirect structure with central units near the end; (2) Background, Circumstance and Preparation relations appear more frequently at the beginning of the speeches, while the Summary relation appears more frequently at the end of the essays; (3) the two most typical top-level patterns of rhetorical structure in the essays resemble the two patterns in the speeches, but with systematic variation and in reversed orders. The results reflect the active role of rhetorical situation in constructing different modes of argumentation for advanced EFL learners. This study could enrich the scope of the application of RST, and provide pedagogical implications for writing in EFL contexts.

scholarly journals Online Suicide Identification in the Framework of Rhetorical Structure Theory (RST)

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 847
Author(s):  
Xingyun Liu ◽  
Xiaoqian Liu
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Suicide Ideation ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Structure Theory ◽  
Context Analysis ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Rhetorical Structure ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
Ideation Methods ◽  
Rhetorical Structures

Background: Suicide is a serious social problem. Substantial efforts have been made to prevent suicide for many decades. The internet has become an important arena for suicide prevention and intervention. However, to the best of our knowledge, only one study has analyzed suicidal comments online from the perspective of rhetorical structure with incomplete rhetorical relations. We aimed to examine the rhetorical differences between Chinese social media users who died by suicide and those without suicidal ideation. Methods: The posts of 15 users who died by suicide and 15 not suffering from suicide ideation were annotated by five postgraduates with expertise in analyzing suicidal posts based on rhetorical structure theory (RST). Group differences were compared via a chi-square test. Results: Results showed that users who died by suicide posted significantly more posts and used more rhetorical relations. Moreover, the two groups displayed significant differences in 17 out of 23 rhetorical relations. Limitations: Because this study is largely exploratory and tentative, caution should be taken in generalizing our findings. Conclusions: Our results expand the methods of RST to the online suicidal identification field. There are implications for population-based suicide prevention by combining rhetorical structures with context analysis.

scholarly journals Developing A Framework For Writing Skill: A Corpus-Based Analysis Of The Written Argumentative Essays

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Kanestion ◽  
Manvender Kaur Sarjit Singh ◽  
Sarimah Shamsudin
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Corpus Analysis ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Written Discourse ◽  
Rhetorical Structure ◽  
Writing Skill ◽  
Three Stages ◽  
Argumentative Essays

Most scholars have studied written discourse both in academic and professional setting within the scope of genre-based analysis, which demonstrate an increase interest in analysing the rhetorical structure of written texts. Conversely, there is a dearth of research in Malaysia that explains the rhetorical structure of argumentative essays from a genre analysis perspective. This paper introduces a genre-based corpus analysis using a compiled representative corpus of the argumentative  essay for developing a rhetorical structure, also known as , an analytical framework to enhance the students’ writing skills. The compiled representative corpus was consisted of 24 argumentative essays.  As a qualitative study, a corpus–based analysis is employed to explore  the distinguished move patterns used in the argumentative essays. Using Hyland’s (1990) 11 move pattern as an analytical framework of the argumentative essay, this study revealed a list of moves and steps which were signaled by the linguistic features. Consequently, there were altogether 9 moves and 14 steps were identified in the three stages, namely Introduction, Argument and Conclusion. However, the moves used by the pre-university students in the study did vary from the model as new moves were marked in each stage. Pedagogically, the findings of this study were expected to guide in developing a framework for writing skills.  

scholarly journals THE INVESTIGATION OF PRODUCTIVE AND RECEPTIVE COMPETENCE IN V+N AND ADJ+N COLLOCATIONS AMONG INDONESIAN EFL LEARNERS

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 189
Author(s):  
Saudin Saudin ◽  
Iis Sulyaningsih ◽  
Lina Meilinda
Keyword(s):  
Language Learners ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Learners ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Test Model ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Lexical Cohesion ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Important Sign

The important role of collocation in learners’ language proficiency has been acknowledged widely. In Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), collocation is known as one prominent member of the super-ordinate lexical cohesion, which contributes significantly to the textual coherence, together with grammatical cohesion and structural cohesion (Halliday & Hasan, 1985). Collocation is also viewed as the hallmark of truly advanced English learners since the higher the learners’ proficiency is, the more they tend to use collocation (Bazzaz & Samad, 2011; Hsu, 2007; Zhang, 1993). Further, knowledge of collocation is regarded as part of the native speakers’ communicative competence (Bazzaz & Samad, 2011); and lack of the knowledge is the most important sign of foreignness among foreign language learners (McArthur, 1992; McCarthy, 1990). Taking the importance of collocation into account, this study is aimed to shed light on Indonesian EFL learners’ levels of collocational competence. In the study, the collocational competence is restricted to v+n and adj+n of collocation but broken down into productive and receptive competence, about which little work has been done (Henriksen, 2013). For this purpose, 49 second-year students of an English department in a state polytechnic were chosen as the subjects. Two sets of tests (filling in the blanks and multiple-choice) were administered to obtain the data of the subjects’ levels of productive and receptive competence and to gain information of which type was more problematic for the learners. The test instruments were designed by referring to Brashi’s (2006) test model, and Koya’s (2003). In the analysis of the data, interpretive-qualitative method was used primarily to obtain broad explanatory information. The data analysis showed that the scores of productive competence were lower than those of receptive competence in both v+n and adj+n collocation. The analysis also revealed that the scores of productive and receptive competence in v+n collocation were higher than those of productive and receptive competence in adj+n collocation. The finding comes as a surprise since it turns out adj+n collocation is more problematic than v+n collocation both productively and receptively. Much research, by contrast, has reported that mistakes in v+n collocation are typical (Al-Zahrani, 1998; Nesselhauf, 2003; Liu, 1999; Sun, 2004). A conclusion has even been drawn that “v+n collocation is more difficult than adj+n collocation” (Kuo, 2009, p. 148). Though more studies are needed to support its finding, this research suggests the type of collocation deserve to get more attention from researchers.

scholarly journals EFL Learners’ Multiple Identities Constructions in Relation to Global Positions of English

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farah Anjanillah ◽  
Ribut Wahyudi ◽  
Syafiyah Syafiyah
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Skill Acquisition ◽  
English Learners ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Multiple Identities ◽  
English Learning ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
English As Foreign Language ◽  
Global Context ◽  
Complex Process

In English as Foreign Language (EFL) learning, the learners’ identities have been intriguing to be explored by the linguists. Norton (2010) argues English learning does not deal with knowledge and skill acquisition alone, instead it also comprises a complex process of the learners’ identities, constructions, and reconstructions. Hence, English learning enables the shaping of English learners’ multiple identities. This study was conducted in one of the Islamic universities (IU) in Malang, Indonesia. The multilingual and multicultural contexts of Indonesia is a crucial factor to conduct this study. These social conditions do also underpin the constructions of English learners’ multiple identities in Indonesia (Wahyudi, 2018a). Hence, this study is intended to sketch out English learners’ multiple identities constructions in the globalization (Anjanillah, 2019). In order to reach the goal, this study employed Pennycook’s (2000) analytical framework dealing with English global positions and Gao’s (2014) article on English learners’ identity prototypes. This study belongs to Critical Applied Linguistics (CAL) since it attempts to conceive the possible implications of English spread in global context on English learners’ multiple identities (Pennycook, 2001). The findings uncover English learners at IU performed myriad and contradictory identities (Anjanillah, 2019).

scholarly journals Discourse relations and evaluation

Corpora ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radoslava Trnavac ◽  
Debopam Das ◽  
Maite Taboada
Keyword(s):  
Structure Theory ◽  
Appraisal Theory ◽  
Corpus Study ◽  
Satellite Structure ◽  
Rhetorical Structure ◽  
Word Category ◽  
Relation Type ◽  
Discourse Relations

In this paper, we examine the role of discourse relations (relations between propositions) in the interpretation of evaluative or opinion words. Through a combination of Rhetorical Structure Theory (or RST; Mann and Thompson, 1988 ) and Appraisal Theory ( Martin and White, 2005 ), we analyse how different discourse relations modify the evaluative content of opinion words, and what impact the nucleus–satellite structure in RST has on the evaluation. We conduct a corpus study, examining and annotating over 3,000 evaluative words in fifty movie reviews in the SFU Review Corpus ( Taboada, 2008 ) with respect to five parameters: word category (noun, verb, adjective or adverb), prior polarity (positive, negative or neutral), RST structure (both nucleus–satellite status and relation type) and change of polarity as a result of being part of a discourse relation (Intensify, Downtone, Reversal or No Change). Results show that relations such as Concession, Elaboration, Evaluation, Evidence and Restatement most frequently intensify the polarity of opinion words, although the majority of evaluative words do not undergo changes in their polarity related to the type of relation that they are a part of. We also find that most opinion words (about 70 percent) are positioned in the nucleus, confirming a hypothesis based on the literature that nuclei are the most important units when extracting opinion automatically.

Rule-Based Polarity Aggregation Using Rhetorical Structures for Aspect-Based Sentiment Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 44-60
Author(s):  
Nuttapong Sanglerdsinlapachai ◽  
Anon Plangprasopchok ◽  
Tu Bao Ho ◽  
Ekawit Nantajeewarawat
Keyword(s):  
Sentiment Analysis ◽  
Negative Polarity ◽  
Structure Theory ◽  
Classification Rules ◽  
Rule Based ◽  
Rhetorical Structure ◽  
Confidence Threshold ◽  
Discourse Relations ◽  
Rhetorical Structures ◽  
F Measure

The segments of a document that are relevant to a given aspect can be identified by using discourse relations of the rhetorical structure theory (RST). Different segments may contribute to the overall sentiment differently, and the sentiment of one segment may affect the contribution of another segment. This work exploits the RST structures of relevant segments to infer the sentiment of a given aspect. An input document is first parsed into an RST tree. For each aspect, relevant segments with their relations in the resulting tree are localized and transformed into a set of features. A set of classification rules is subsequently induced and evaluated on data. The proposed framework performs well in several experimental settings, with the accuracy values ranging from 74.0% to 77.1% being achieved. With proper strategies for removing conflicting rules and tuning the confidence threshold, f-measure values for the negative polarity class can be improved.

scholarly journals RELATIONSHIP AMONG BRAIN HEMISPHERIC DOMINANCE, ATTITUDE TOWARDS L1 AND L2, GENDER, AND LEARNING SUPRASEGMENTAL FEATURES

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 112
Author(s):  
Mohammad Hadi Mahmoodi ◽  
Sorour Zekrati
Keyword(s):  
Significant Relationship ◽  
English Learners ◽  
Instructional Materials ◽  
Hemispheric Dominance ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Suprasegmental Features ◽  
L1 And L2 ◽  
Listening And Speaking ◽  
Learning English

<p>Oral skills are important components of language competence. To have good and acceptable listening and speaking, one must have good pronunciation, which encompasses segmental and suprasegmental features. Despite extensive studies on the role of segmental features and related issues in listening and speaking, there is paucity of research on the role of suprasegmental features in the same domain. Conducting studies which aim at shedding light on the issues related to learning suprasegmental features can help language teachers and learners in the process of teaching/learning English as a foreign language. To this end, this study was designed to investigate the relationship among brain hemispheric dominance, gender, attitudes towards L1 and L2, and learning suprasegmental features in Iranian EFL learners. First, 200 Intermediate EFL learners were selected from different English language teaching institutes in Hamedan and Isfahan, two provinces in Iran, as the sample. Prior to the main stage of the study, Oxford Placement Test (OPT) was used to homogenize the proficiency level of all the participants. Then, the participants were asked to complete the Edinburgh Handedness Questionnaire to determine their dominant hemisphere. They were also required to answer two questionnaires regarding their attitudes towards L1 and L2. Finally, the participants took suprasegmental features test. The results of the independent samples t-tests indicated left-brained language learners’ superiority in observing and learning suprasegmental features. It was also found that females are better than males in producing suprasegmental features. Furthermore, the results of Pearson Product Moment Correlations indicated that there is significant relationship between attitude towards L2 and learning suprasegmental features. However, no significant relationship was found between attitude towards L1 and learning English suprasegmental features. The findings of this study can provide English learners, teachers and developers of instructional materials with some theoretical and pedagogical implications which are discussed in the paper.</p>

Role of spectrin in membrane fusion and in shape change of human erythrocyte ghost

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 328-329
Author(s):  
Hideo Hayashi ◽  
Yoshikazu Hirai ◽  
John T. Penniston
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Human Erythrocyte ◽  
Shape Change ◽  
Membrane Surface ◽  
Slight Modification ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Main Role ◽  
Bank Blood ◽  
Human Erythrocyte Ghost

Spectrin is a membrane associated protein most of which properties have been tentatively elucidated. A main role of the protein has been assumed to give a supporting structure to inside of the membrane. As reported previously, however, the isolated spectrin molecule underwent self assemble to form such as fibrous, meshwork, dispersed or aggregated arrangements depending upon the buffer suspended and was suggested to play an active role in the membrane conformational changes. In this study, the role of spectrin and actin was examined in terms of the molecular arrangements on the erythrocyte membrane surface with correlation to the functional states of the ghosts.Human erythrocyte ghosts were prepared from either freshly drawn or stocked bank blood by the method of Dodge et al with a slight modification as described before. Anti-spectrin antibody was raised against rabbit by injection of purified spectrin and partially purified.

Elucidation of block boundaries as the dissolution channels in hydrated cement

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 484-485
Author(s):  
N.V. Belov ◽  
U.I. Papiashwili ◽  
B.E. Yudovich
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Grain Boundaries ◽  
Benzoyl Peroxide ◽  
Phase Contrast ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Hardened Cement ◽  
Hydrated Cement ◽  
Hardened Cement Paste

It has been almost universally adopted that dissolution of solids proceeds with development of uniform, continuous frontiers of reaction.However this point of view is doubtful / 1 /. E.g. we have proved the active role of the block (grain) boundaries in the main phases of cement, these boundaries being the areas of hydrate phases' nucleation / 2 /. It has brought to the supposition that the dissolution frontier of cement particles in water is discrete. It seems also probable that the dissolution proceeds through the channels, which serve both for the liquid phase movement and for the drainage of the incongruant solution products. These channels can be appeared along the block boundaries.In order to demonsrate it, we have offered the method of phase-contrast impregnation of the hardened cement paste with the solution of methyl metacrylahe and benzoyl peroxide. The viscosity of this solution is equal to that of water.

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