A Corpus-based Study of Cohesion through Reference and Conjunctive Ties in IELTS Simulation Essays by Colombian Students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26817/16925777.1980Keywords:
argumentative ESL essays, cohesion in ESL writing, Colombian ESL learners, Corpus Linguistics in Colombia, IELTS Writing Task 2, reference and conjunctive ties, SCoCESLE – The Small Corpus of Colombian English as a Second Language EssaysAbstract
Although cohesion in English as a Second Language (ESL) argumentative essays has been explored extensively, less is known about the Colombian context. The current study employed comparative Corpus Linguistic methods to explore the use of reference and conjunctive ties in a corpus of IELTS simulation essays called SCoCESLE (the Small Corpus of Colombian English as a Second Language Essays). Results suggest that Colombian ESL learners use reference and conjunctive ties in essays in more different ways than similar compared to proficient ESL writers. The main differences concern overuse, underuse, misuse, positioning, and a narrower range of certain ties, while the main similarities relate to the dispersion of overused ties. The study contributes to a better understanding of the current state of ESL argumentative essay writing skills in the Colombian context. The paper concludes with a discussion of pedagogical recommendations, limitations, and avenues for future research.
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