英語ライティングにおける結束性と評価の関係性

—まとまりのあるライティングを目指した実践的研究—

抄録

This article is a practical report which examines the relationship between the use of cohesive devices in expository writings and their quality. During an academic year, forty Grade 12 kosen students were assigned four take-home writing tasks, followed by writing instructions focusing on the importance of cohesion and coherence. The last task at the end of the year was analyzed for this study based on the frequency of cohesive devices used and the evaluation of writing products. The use of cohesive devices was examined in terms of reference, lexical cohesion and incidence scores of connectives, applying indices which were introduced in Halliday & Hassan (1976). In addition, the writing products were rated using EFL Composition Profile established by Nakanishi (2006). The results showed that the participants heavily used personal pronouns, especially the first and second person pronouns, and also repeated the same words to maintain cohesiveness in their writing products. Furthermore, a correlation analysis revealed a moderate relationship between the quality of writing products and the use of personal pronouns. However, no correlation was found between the quality of writing and either lexical cohesion or incidence scores of connectives. Further analysis demonstrated more frequent use of expressions such as “I think” and “I believe”, which are usually used in conversation or informal settings. The results of this study suggested that instructions will be necessary on what type of register and paragraph organization should be used in accordance to an individual rhetorical mode. Moreover, exercises are recommended where learners are encouraged to replace words, expressions and sentence structures which they have already used in their products, regardless of their proficiency levels.