从英语议论文分析大学生抽象思维特点.pdfVIP

2006 2 162 No.2, March 2006 Journal of Foreign Languages General Serial No.162 1004-5139200602-0049-10 H05 A 100089 120 4 4 An Exploratory Study on Features in English Majors’ Abstract Thinking in English Argumentative Compositions WEN Qiu-fang, LIU Run-qing (China National Research Center for Foreign Language Education, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing 100089, China) Abstract: The paper reports an exploratory study on 120 English argumentative compositions by English majors in an attempt to identify features and problems in their abstract thinking. Based on close scrutiny of 20 best compositions from 1-4 grades, we hypothesized 4 parameters (i.e. relevance, explicitness, coherence and sufficiency) accompanying the supposedly 4 thinking stages in composing (i.e. understanding the composition topic, developing a thesis statement and supporting arguments, organizing a coherent discourse and putting ideas into writing). Then we tried to verify/falsify our hypotheses by marking another 100 compositions of the same kind twice in 3 months, which yielded a tentative framework for analyzing the general features of and salient problems in the students’ abstract thinking. Key words: B.A. program in English; English argumentative composition; abstract thinking 120