A Didactic Intervention On Written Discourse And Rhetorical Patterns

Authors

  • Esteban Juan Bautista Zárate Mejía Universidad Veracruzana
  • Michel Jesús Páez Ruenes Universidad Veracruzana [https://ror.org/03efxn362]
  • Antonio Mario Servín Medina Universidad Veracruzana [https://ror.org/03efxn362]
  • Rafael Sánchez García Universidad Veracruzana [https://ror.org/03efxn362]

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55227/ijhess.v4i2.1113

Keywords:

critical thinking skills, discourse analysis, discourse patterns, lesson plan, reading skill

Abstract

Reading comprehension skills in EFL is vital for university students. Particularly, being aware of the writer’s intention by means of discourse patters allows students to interact with the written text. Therefore, this research paper examines the implementation of a Discourse Analysis perspective in an Intermediate general EFL lesson aimed to enhance both critical thinking and reading skills by identifying the use of language patterns in written texts. 20 students form an Upper-Intermediate English course that studies a BA in English at a public University situated in the center of the state of Veracruz Mexico were the participants. Qualitative classroom research approach was chosen to implement a didactic intervention aimed at enhancing students communicative and reflective skills on the impact that social media has had on their lives. Results revealed that students were able to identify the meaning, and the relationship discourse markers establish between the written ideas and the meaning the writer wants to transmit. Particularly, students were able to reflect on the implications of social media use on communication, information access, marketing, and self-perception of its users. The didactic implications of the lesson focused on discourse patterns use indicate that such teaching perspective can significantly improve students’ critical thinking and communicative abilities. Therefore, it can be considered this lesson as an innovative proposal for enhancing the development of communicative skills in EFL students.

Author Biographies

Esteban Juan Bautista Zárate Mejía, Universidad Veracruzana

PhD. in Education by Xalapa University, M.A. in TEFL, B.A. in English Language by Veracruzana University. Professor researcher at Veracruzana University. Speaker at national and international research forums. Author of book chapters, books and articles based on his research interests: inclusive education, curriculum design, educative programs evaluation, and translation studies.

Michel Jesús Páez Ruenes , Universidad Veracruzana [https://ror.org/03efxn362]

Michel is currently a student of a master’s degree in teaching English as a foreign language at Universidad Veracruzana in Mexico. He did a bachelor’s degree in TEFL at Universidad de Artemisa in Cuba. In his three years of experience, he has worked in private language schools and public universities.

Antonio Mario Servín Medina, Universidad Veracruzana [https://ror.org/03efxn362]

Antonio Mario Servín Medina is a teacher with twenty years of expertise in English Language Teaching. He has been working for private and public institutions as the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a Specialization in TEFL. He’s currently studying a Master’s degree in TEFL at Universidad Veracruzana.

Rafael Sánchez García , Universidad Veracruzana [https://ror.org/03efxn362]

Rafael holds a BA in English Language and is currently pursuing an MA in English Language Teaching. With six years of enriching teaching experience in junior high and high school, Rafael has developed a profound understanding of the educational landscape and the subtleties of English language teaching.

References

Ahn, H. (2012). Teaching Writing Skills Based on a Genre Approach to L2 Primary School Students: An Action Research. English Language Teaching, 5(2). https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1078947.pdf

Allight, D. (1983). Classroom-Centered Research on Language Teaching and Learning: A BriefHistorical Overv. TESOL Quarterly, 17(2).

Asher, N. & Lascarides, A. (2003). Logics of Conversation. Studies in Natural Language Processing. Cambridge University Press.

Atkinson, D. (2003). L2 writing in the post-process era: Introduction. Journal of Second Language Writing, 12(1), 3-15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1060-3743(02)00123-6

Bartlett, F. C. (1995). Remembering: A study in experimental and social psychology. Cambridge University Press.

Brown, G., & Yule, G. (1983). Discourse analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Chambers, A. (2007). Language learning as discourse analysis: Implications for the LSP learning environment. ASp, 51–52, 35–51. https://doi.org/10.4000/asp.483

Christie, F. (1999). Genre theory and ESL teaching: A systemic functional perspective. TESOL Quarterly, 33(4), 759-763. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3587889

Ellis, R. (1994). The Study of Second Language Acquisition. Oxford University Press.

Farlora, M., (2015). Descripción funcional del género académico didáctico con función evaluativa Prueba Tipo Ensayo: explorando el discurso de Historia y Psicología. En: Parodi, G. & Burdiles, G. (Ed.). Leer y escribir en contextos académicos y profesionales: géneros, corpus y métodos. Santiago de Chile: Ariel, p. 257-290.

Feez, S. (2002). Heritage and innovation in second language education. In A. M. Johns (Ed.), Genre in the classroom: Multiple perspective. Mahwah, N.J: L. Erlbaum.

Hess, K. (2006). Teaching and Assessing Understanding of Text Structures across Grades. National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment. https://www.nciea.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/TextStructures_KH08.pdf

Hoey, M. (2001). Textual interaction: An introduction to written discourse analysis. Routledge.

Hyland, K. (2007). Genre and second language writing. USA: The university of Michigan press.

Jacoby, S. &Ochs, E. (1995). Co-construction: An Introduction. Research on Language and Social Interaction, 28(3), 171–183. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327973rlsi2803_1

Jasinskaja, K & Karagjosova, E. (2020). Rhetorical Relations. In D. Gutzmann, L. Matthewson, C. Meier, H. Rullmann & T.E. Zimmermann (eds.). The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Semantics. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Johns, A. M. (1990). Discourse communities and communities of practice: Membership, conflict, and diversity. TESOL Quarterly, 24(2), 225-247.

Jones, C. (2022). Authenticity in language teaching materials. In J. Norton & H. Buchanan (eds.). The Routledge handbook of materials development for language teaching. Routledge.

Jong, M. S., Chen, G., Tam, V., & Chai, C. S. (2019). Adoption of flipped learning in social humanities education: the FIBER experience in secondary schools. Interactive Learning Environments, 27(8), 1222–1238. https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2018.1561473

Ka-kan-dee, M. & Kaur, S. (2014). Argumentative writing difficulties of Thai English major students. The 2014 WEI International Academic Conference Proceedings, 193-207. The West East Institute, Bali: Indonesia. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/2H3DZNG

Kemmerling, A. (2002). Expressing an Intentional State. In G. Grewendorf & G. Meggle (eds.). Speech Acts, Minds, and Social Reality: discussions with John R. Searle. Springer.

Koshy, V. (2010). Action Research for Improving Educational Practice. A Step-by-step guide. SAGE.

Mann, W. C., & Thompson, S. A. (1988). Rhetorical Structure Theory: Toward a functional theory of text organization. Third Text, 8(3). https://doi.org/10.1515/text.1.1988.8.3.243

McCarthy, M., & Carter, R. (1993). Language as Discourse: Perspective for Language Teaching. London: Longman.

McCarthy, M. (1991). Discourse Analysis for Language Teachers. Cambridge University Press.

Muncie, J. (2002). Process writing and vocabulary development:comparing Lexical frequency orofiles across drafts. System, 30(2), 225-235. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0346-251X(02)00006-4

Paltridge, B. (2007). Approaches to Genre in ELT. In J. Cummins, & C. Davison (Eds.), International Handbook of English Language Teaching, 931-943. Springer US.

Raoofi, S., Binandeh, M. & Rahmani, S. (2017). An Investigation into Writing Strategies and Writing Proficiency of University Students. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 8 (1), 191-198. http://dx.doi.org/10.17507/jltr.0801.24

Rayas, L.T. & Méndez, A.M., (2017). Los estudiantes universitarios ante la escritura del ensayo académico: dificultades y posibilidades. Innovación Educativa, 17 (75), 123- 147.

Rogers, L. (2012). Approaches to writing in EAP. Retrieved March 15, 2024, from https://teachingenglishwithoxford.oup.com/2012/09/18/approaches-to-writing-in-eap/

Sanders, T.J.M. & Schilperoord, J. (2006). Text structure as a window on the cognition of writing. In C.A. Macarthur, S. Graham & J. Fitgerald (Eds.). Handbook of writing research. The Guilford Press.

Schmidt, R. (1990). The role of consciousness in second Language learning1. Applied Linguistics, 11(2), 129–158. https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/11.2.129

Spindler, G., & Spindler, L. (2014). Interpretive ethnography of education at home and abroad. Psychology Press eBooks. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315801872

Spivey, N. N. (1997). The constructivist metaphor: Reading, writing and the making of meaning. San Diego, CA: Academic.

Sweller, J. (1988). Cognitive load during problem solving: Effects on learning. Cognitive Science, 12(2), 257–285. https://doi.org/10.1016/0364-0213(88)90023-7

Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Harvard University Press.

Yeh, T. K., Tseng, K., Cho, C., Barufaldi, J. P., Lin, M., & Chang, C. (2012). Exploring the Impact of Prior Knowledge and Appropriate Feedback on Students’ Perceived Cognitive Load and Learning Outcomes: Animation-based earthquakes instruction. International Journal of Science Education, 34(10), 1555–1570. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2011.579640

Universidad Veracruzana, (2015). Programa de Estudio Inglés Intermedio Alto. Facultad de Idiomas, Universidad Veracruzana.

Downloads

Published

2024-10-09

How to Cite

Zárate Mejía, E. J. B., Páez Ruenes , M. J. ., Servín Medina, A. M. ., & Sánchez García , R. . (2024). A Didactic Intervention On Written Discourse And Rhetorical Patterns. International Journal Of Humanities Education and Social Sciences (IJHESS), 4(2). https://doi.org/10.55227/ijhess.v4i2.1113