Embedding publication skills in science research training: a writing group programme based on applied linguistics frameworks and facilitated by a scientist

Few systematic efforts have been reported to develop higher degree by research student skills for writing publishable articles in science and technology fields. There is a need to address this lack in the light of the current importance of publication to science research students and the high supervisor workload entailed in repeated draft correction, especially when students use English as an additional language. An interdisciplinary teaching approach to address this need has recently been developed featuring analysis frameworks from applied linguistics (AL) research, with successful outcomes in short, stand-alone workshops facilitated by an applied linguist teaching alone or in teams with scientists. Its use by a scientist alone has not previously been investigated, although scientists are well placed to address this development need. We investigate the suitability and effectiveness of this approach for use by a scientist to embed training, in the context of the first two years of operation of a school-level writing group programme, and identify features of the approach that align with participants’ perceptions of benefit. Student response to the programme has been strongly positive, with increased confidence to write for publication and complete their degrees, and high activity towards publishing papers on their degree research. The presenter reports maintenance of his own publication output in spite of the time spent on this training, as a result of increased writing efficiency. Features of the approach that map to perceived benefit include its basis in AL frameworks for analysis of student-provided example papers; incorporation of relevant aspects of English usage and grammar in the frameworks; and inclusion of response to reviewer comments as an integral part of article writing.     

写作与二语习得

写作历史性地被认为只是口语的记载,是一种为记录和传播口语而出现的现代发明,并长期被排斥于应用语言学研究的边缘。这种偏见因而造成了二语习得研究对写作的忽视。事实上,写作作为一种语言输出形式,是与口语输出同样重要的有效交际行为,能在二语学习过程中减轻面对面交际给学习者带来的心理压力,并有助于语言知识的内化。网络电子邮件的出现更突显了写作在二语习得中的作用。因此,如何利用写作来促进二语学习应成为二语习得研究的一个重点。     

音乐电视

音乐电视对我们这一代来说是再普通不过了,现如今,有哪个歌手发新片不拍音乐电视呢？它的出现对整个演艺界都有划时代的影响。不过,对于如此泛滥的音乐电视,也有一些反对声音。音乐电视究竟是好是坏？你是怎么看的呢？     

任务型写作对词汇习得的促进作用

自20世纪80年代起,第二语言习得领域的研究重点开始由输入活动转向输出活动在二语习得中的作用,著名语言学家Merrill Swain认为语言输入并不是外语学习唯一的成功因素,输出活动对外语学习同样重要.Swain认为输出活动具有三种重要功能：注意功能、检验假设功能和元语言功能.本文作者在Swain“输出假设”理论的基础上,通过传统的输入方法和任务型写作输出的比较研究任务型写作输出对学生词汇习得的影响.     

Exploring the utility of action research to investigate second‐language classrooms as complex systems

Action research is geared to changes for the better and has the potential to assist teachers to extend their teaching skills and develop a deeper understanding of themselves, their classroom and their learners. However, in the area of applied linguistics, the viability of action research has been seriously questioned. In this article, we argue that adopting a complexity‐theory perspective, which requires teachers to be dynamic and complex in their approach, helps in identifying action research as a suitable research tradition for investigating second‐language classrooms and in turn using it widely to invigorate the field of applied linguistics. Our argumentation is supported by the fundamental links between action research and complexity theory as an emerging paradigm in education. Although the case made in this article concerns second‐language classrooms, the conclusions reached may well apply to any classroom that shares some commonalities with second‐language classrooms.     

认知语言学注意观与大学英语说明文写作

在传统的英语写作教学中,学生只是机械地接受了写作技巧和知识的灌输,模仿写作的程序和模式,并不能灵活地运用语言知识进行表达。从认知语言学注意观理论出发,并将其应用在英语说明文写作中,找出说明文写作方法及特点,旨在提高大学生英语说明文写作能力。     

社会认知写作理论初探

近年来,认知语言学在外语教学研究领域显示出了强大的生命力,它的发展对写作研究也产生了很大的影响,由此出现了新的写作理论模型,即社会认知写作模型,为写作教学提供了一个重要的理解写作活动的视角。本文将在回顾认知与写作研究发展的基础上,比较这种新理论的特点,优势,探讨该理论在外语写作教学方面的指导意义及可以采取的相关教学策略。     

A closer look at integrated writing tasks: Towards a more focussed definition for assessment purposes

The use of integrated tasks is increasingly common in second language assessment in both high stakes and classroom contexts. However, because of the vague definition of what constitutes an integrated task, the types of tasks included in this area and the assessment of the resulting writing is highly varied. In this paper, we argue for a better definition of the term ‘integrated writing task’. We start by reviewing current definitions available in the literature, discuss the construct underlying integrated tasks and then propose a number of features which we feel need to be present in integrated tasks. We then propose a new, narrower definition of the term. We hope that this will result in better task design, improved assessment outcomes for test takers, more detailed test specifications, better replicability of research and a shared research agenda.     

国内近20年大学英语写作研究概观

以1990年至2009年中国期刊网收录的有关大学英语写作研究文献为研究对象,重点对2000至2009年间国内八大外语类核心期刊刊载的大学英语写作研究论文进行考察,发现研究者集中在词汇语法、篇章结构、写作教学、影响写作的因素、读者反馈等方面对英语写作教学作了细致的探讨;同时,大学英语写作研究成果整体呈上升的趋势,研究内容广泛,实证性研究不断增加,写作主体越来越受到重视.     

字母词研究论略

现代汉语字母词兴起于上个世纪九十年代,随着字母词的大量出现,语言工作者给予了极大的关注,纷纷撰文,就字母词的多个方面进行了广泛的研究。本文对近年来的字母词研究进行一些梳理,以期对该问题的进一步研究有所裨益。     

认知语言学研究的现状分析与方向探路——基于《认知语言学》期刊(2009)的分析

20世纪70年代以降,认知语言学从诞生之日起,不断反思和批判生成语言学理论,完善自己的理论体系和研究方法,日趋走向成熟.对语言的语音、音位、词汇、句法、语篇、语义、语用等各个层面进行了研究,展示了其强大的解释力.以《认知语言学》期刊2009年刊载的论文和评论为数据,综述认知语言学研究取得的主要成果,阐述认知语言学的研究现状,探析当下的研究热点问题,展望可能的发展趋势.     

A systematic review of item response theory in language assessment: Implications for the dimensionality of language ability

The present study conducted a systematic review of the item response theory (IRT) literature in language assessment to investigate the conceptualization and operationalization of the dimensionality of language ability. Sixty-two IRT-based studies published between 1985 and 2020 in language assessment and educational measurement journals were first classified into two categories based on a unidimensional and multidimensional research framework, and then reviewed to examine language dimensionality from technical and substantive perspectives. It was found that 12 quantitative techniques were adopted to assess language dimensionality. Exploratory factor analysis was the primary method of dimensionality analysis in papers that had applied unidimensional IRT models, whereas the comparison modeling approach was dominant in the multidimensional framework. In addition, there was converging evidence within the two streams of research supporting the role of a number of factors such as testlets, language skills, subskills, and linguistic elements as sources of multidimensionality, while mixed findings were reported for the role of item formats across research streams. The assessment of reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills was grounded within both unidimensional and multidimensional framework. By contrast, vocabulary and grammar knowledge was mainly conceptualized as unidimensional. Directions for continued inquiry and application of IRT in language assessment are provided.     

英语写作过程中的中介语石化成因研究

中介语石化是二语习得中的一个普遍现象.文章从学习策略、交际策略、文化迁移以及教师的训练迁移等四个方面,分析了英语写作学习过程中的中介语石化成因,探讨了研究中介语的石化现象对英语写作教学的积极作用.     

认知语言学及认知语法对提高语法能力的诠释

以往认知语言学的研究大多集中于理论的探讨,从实践操作层面进行的研究相对缺乏。运用认知语言学及认知语法的研究成果能加深教师对语法习得过程进而对二语习得过程的认识。教学过程中教师应改变单一的规定性的讲授方法,关注语法的语义特性,加强整体性教学,使学生体验语法特性,增强对语言现象的敏感性,从而获得较强的语法能力。     

Genre Analysis on Introduction of English Major Masters' Graduation Thesis

The introduction of the academic paper, as a type of discourse, are not only an indispensable part of the thesis, but also a kind of social behavior with communicative purpose. The introductions are the essence of academic papers, so it is particularly important for postgraduates to write English introduction. Therefore, the introduction of academic writing, as a genre, has been widely studied for many years. This study analyzes a 50-research-article corpus of English introductions chosen at random with theories relating to genre and genre analysis. These research articles from masters' graduation thesis in the field of applied linguistics(Research Article, i.e. for RA) are analyzed from macro-level and micro-level. And this study is to explore English postgraduates how to choose genre structure, language forms and the communicative purpose that the introductions should achieve. The result shows that some English introductions of the masters' graduation thesis differ from the international general pattern in frequency and quantity of moves, due to the influence of the context. To some extent, this study is significant in teaching academic paper writing.     

“写”“译”结合，构建多维度的英语写作教学课堂

国内外众多学者都曾探讨过翻译在二语写作中所起的积极作用,但就其在写作教学中的应用并没有得到深入的研究。实验证明,以“词汇听译-句式操练-话题讨论-学生仿写”的“写”“译”结合课堂教学模式有利于构建一个丰富的、多维度的写作教学课堂,以解决学生英语的写作基础技能问题。这个模式的四个步骤是递进的、相辅相成的,为学生的创造性写作搭建平台、创造条件。     

第52届国际阿尔泰学会议综述

第52届国际阿尔泰学会议于2009年7月26日至31日在呼和浩特市举行。这是常设国际阿尔泰学会议自1957年成立以来第一次在中国大陆举行的年会,同时也是第一次在阿尔泰语系主要语言之一的蒙古语地区举办的年会。这次会议的召开不仅具有重要的学术意义,而且还有深远的历史意义。内蒙古大学和中国阿尔泰学会共同主办了本届会议。围绕“阿尔泰世界的神话与秘境”这一会议主题,来自欧洲、美洲及亚洲15个国家和地区的90余名学者发表了各自的研究成果。根据内容,提交会议的论文大致分为几类：（1）语言学研究论文。这类论文主要在蒙古、突厥、满一通古斯、契丹、日本等阿尔泰语系诸语言以及乌拉尔语系某些语言的语音、语法、词汇、词源、文字等领域进行了研究;（2）有关阿尔泰语系各民族神话传说、传统文化、生活习俗及宗教信仰的学术论文;（3）有关历史事件、历史人物和历史文献的学术论文;（4）有关阿尔泰语系诸民族文学艺术的学术论文。     

Computerized prompting partners and keystroke recording devices: Two macro driven writing tools

Recent research into composing processes has focused on instructional intervention strategies that promote effective composition practices within computerized writing environments. The field of computers and composition has benefitted both from advances in computing tools and developments in learning theory. The innovative computer tool discussed in this paper uses the macro-command language of a full-featured word processor to enact strategic support designed to help writers with their written work. From a theoretical standpoint, this tool created a writing environment based on Vygotskian theory of mediated learning and was grounded in an instructional strategy known as “procedural facilitation.” To evaluate the effectiveness of this computerprompting tool, a second macro application was used to log student keystrokes, thereby tracking student writing development, revisionary practices, and keystroke reactions to the prompting partner. Students using the prompting tool enacted divergent and convergent thinking assistance that appeared at the bottom of their computer screens while the system saved a process record of their keystrokes. Procedures for creating macro-driven prompting programs and keystroke-logging devices are discussed. Additionally, a catalog of prompts and summary of keystroke-mapping benefits are provided. Finally, our research using the macro-driven prompting partner and keystroke-register tool is detailed.     

写论文可以没有理论吗？——试说中小学教师的论文写作与理论应用的关系

在中小学教师的科研论文写作中,是否需要或怎样应用理论是一个有争议的问题。本文对教师科研论文写作的文体语言、传播对象、学术规范等范畴中的问题进行了分析,提出应从研究和解决问题的真实需要出发应用和构建理论的观点。     

基于AES的大学英语写作教学模式研究

英语写作能力培养一直是大学英语教学的重点和难点,目前自动作文评分AES（Automated Essay Scoring）技术已得到广泛应用,但如何将其与大学英语写作教学有效结合仍有待深入研究。鉴于此,根据我国大学英语写作教学现状,结合L2（Second Language）语言学习特点,在分析AES技术相关原理基础上,对大学英语写作教学模式进行分析研究。结果表明,当前中国大学英语写作教学需结合AES技术和L2语言学习特点,构建基于AES的大学英语教学模式,以激发学生学习兴趣,提升学生英语写作能力。