The Interpersonal Positioning of L2 Writers in Argumentative Texts

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The Interpersonal Positioning of L2 Writers in
Argumentative Texts

• Efstathia Samara
• Ph. D. Candidate
• University of Athens

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Interpersonal positioning refers to

• How writers position themselves in relation to
  their readers
• How lexico-grammatical choices construe different
  types of authorial voice and social
  relationships

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Dialogic approach to writing Bakhtins views of
language

• Writing is a form of verbal interaction
• Writers should constantly anticipate and respond
  to readers potential reactions

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Objectives of the study

• To explicate EFL writers problems in terms of
  interpersonal meanings

• To explore how far L2 writers can manage their
  interaction with readers

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Text Analysis at two levels

• AT A GENRE LEVEL
• AT A DISCOURSE
• SEMANTICS LEVEL

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Text analysis at a genre level

• Generic structure of argument
• Interpersonal function of generic stages how
  the text has been structured to facilitate its
  processing by readers

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Topic of argumentative essay

• Research indicates that the characteristics we
  are born with have much more influence on our
  personality and development than any experiences
  we may have in our life.
• Which do you consider to be the major
  influence?

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Prescribed steps in an analytical discussion with
respective interpersonal functions

• Seek attention/ Build background
• Justify the point
• Justify the point
• Clarify writers stance on issue
• Reinforce the stance taken

• 1. Identification/ Background
• 2. Arguments for 1st position
• 3. Arguments against 1st position
• (Arguments for 2nd position)
• 4. Thesis
• 5. Reiteration of thesis/Summary of
  points/Suggestions

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Elaboration of main points features the greatest
variation

• Student sample of ineffective, writer-oriented
  elaboration
  
• In my opinion, experiences that we have in life
  have the major influence in our personality. Our
  characteristics make us act in several ways, but
  our experiences make us choose what we really
  want to do. With our experiences we learn to be
  social, independent and confident.

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Text analysis at a discourse semantics level

• MODALITY

• Signals the entry of other voices in the text
• Indicates the writers willingness to acknowledge
  diverse opinions
• Opens up space for negotiation
• Brings the reader in the text (Thompson
  Thetela)

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Student sample with modality indicators

• We exchange views and therefore we sometimes
  change the way we have been thinking from our
  birth. For example, when we are with friends and
  talking about the good and the bad in our life it
  is possible to change our view as we hear options
  we may have never been thought.

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Results by Writing Proficiency
Mean Frequencies per 100 words
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Modality and Interactive Structure by Writing
Proficiency Level
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Pedagogical Implications

• L2 writing can be improved if writers are
  explicitly taught to manage successful
  interaction in the text