Application Of Discourse Coherence In English Writing

The social and educational demand for highly competent college graduates calls for the innovations in all aspects of English teaching throughout our country. As a result, reforms in English teaching·have been carried out in a large scale in China followed by the improvement of the English proficiency of the learners. Meanwhile, weaknesses remain in their writing ability, and one of the distinctive weaknesses has relevance to insufficient mastery of the discourse coherence in English writing.Therefore, strengthening the writing muscles of the learners with reference to the theory of discourse coherence will be the topic for the thesis. To purposely deal with the problem. the thesis concentrates on discourse coherence from explicit and implicit perspectives attempt to seek for the basis for effective composition writing. By reviewing transfer theory especially the negative transfer from discourse coherence and cultural negative transfer, the thesis confirms its belief that adopting discourse coherence in English teaching with authentic input can reduce negative transfer. Based on these theories, the thesis then take into account some empirical studies by teachers at home and abroad:further, an experimental study is thus made on a sixteen-week basis in a discourse coherence model to test the rationale that authentic and sufficient input can reduce negative transfer, hence enhance the English writing ability. The results from both empirical studies and the case study made in the thesis demonstrate that students who are trained in this way make fewer errors in discourse coherence. This will be. the author believes, of great significance to improve non-English majors' English writing in colleges.It is earnestly hoped that this study can provide helpful tips for college English teaching.