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Effect of Alignment on Text Cohesion in the Continuation Task

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Listed:
  • Lin Jiang
  • Xin Xu

Abstract

A continuation task provides learners with a text with its ending removed and requires them to complete it through writing in a most coherent and logical way. The current study investigated (a) whether the continuation task had a positive effect on text cohesion and (b) whether texts produced by pairs exhibited higher cohesion than those produced by individual learners. A total of 80 college students were randomly assigned to one of three task conditions- 1) 40 students working in pairs in a continuation task; 2) 20 working individually in a continuation task; and 3) 20 working individually in a picture writing task. Text cohesion was analyzed by using three indices from Coh-metrix- Argument Overlap, Latent Semantic Analysis, and Causal Cohesion. Moreover, the collaborative dialogue and think-aloud protocols were collected and transcribed for identifying language-related episodes (LREs). The results showed that learners in Condition 1 produced the highest text cohesion while those in Conditions 3 the lowest. Furthermore, learners in Condition 1 produced more cohesion-related LREs, especially proportionally more correctly resolved LREs than those in Conditions 2 and 3. The implications of these findings from the perspective of alignment are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Lin Jiang & Xin Xu, 2016. "Effect of Alignment on Text Cohesion in the Continuation Task," English Language Teaching, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 9(10), pages 133-133, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:ibn:eltjnl:v:9:y:2016:i:10:p:133
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lin Jiang, 2015. "The Effectiveness of the Continuation Task on Second Language Learning of English Articles," English Language Teaching, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 8(11), pages 1-79, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhicheng Mao & Lin Jiang, 2017. "Exploring the Effects of the Continuation Task on Syntactic Complexity in Second Language Writing," English Language Teaching, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 10(8), pages 100-100, August.

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      JEL classification:

      • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
      • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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