Title: Sub-headings and assignment types across the disciplines in student written assignments
1Sub-headings and assignment types acrossthe
disciplines in student writtenassignments
- Sheena Gardner
- and
- Jasper Holmes
- University of Warwick
- The 18th Euro-International Systemic Functional
Linguistics Conference - 20-22 July, 2006Universita' di Trieste(Gorizia
Site)
2An Investigation of Genres of Assessed Writing in
British Higher Education
RES-000-23-0800
31. The BAWE corpus (http//go.warwick.ac.uk/bawe)
- British Academic Written English
- (projected) holdings
- 3,500 student assignments
- from 28 departments
- at three universities (Oxford Brookes, Reading,
Warwick) - tagged for
- title and title page
- table of contents
- abstract or summary
- section headings
- figures and diagrams
- lists (simple, bulleted, ordered)
- quotations
- bibliography
- appendices
- ltpgt and ltsgt units
42. Structural and functional properties of
assignments
- "Once texts develop to a level of internal
complexity, titles, subtitles, headings and
subheadings are commonly deployed to keep track
of the composition structure .." - (Martin, 1992443)
52a. Metafunctions of headings
- (sub-)titles and (sub-)headings function as
macro-themes that predict text (Ravelli 2004) - ideationally
- textually
- interpersonally
6ideational
- The heading functions to predict the field of the
section that follows. - ltp n"dept"gtEngineering business managementlt/pgt
- ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gt3.1 Organisation
Culturelt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gt3.2 Organisation
Structurelt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gt3.3 Hiring the
right peoplelt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gt3.4 Clarity of
visionlt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gt3.5 Respect
Trustlt/pgt
7textual
- The heading predicts the function and
organization of the section that follows. - ltp n"dept"gtBiologylt/pgt
- ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"underline"gtIntroductionlt/p
gt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"underline"gtExperimentlt/pgt
- ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"underline"gtMethodlt/pgt
- ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"underline"gtResultslt/pgt
- ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"underline"gtCommentslt/pgt
- ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"underline"gtConclusionlt/pgt
8interpersonal
- The heading functions as a repetition of the
tutors initiation to which the student responds
in the section that follows (Hamp-Lyons 1988). - ltp n"dept"gtEconomicslt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtQuestion 2a)lt/pgt
- ltp n"dept"gtHistorylt/pgt
- lttitlePart type"main" rend"underline"gtWhat, if
anything, does Oscar Wildes Portrait of Dorian
Gray Owe to Cesare Lombroso?lt/titlePartgt
92b. Assignment structure
- simple no parts
- complex structurally related parts
- compound independent parts
10simple assignments
0022a simple essay
- ltsourceDescgt
- ltp n"essayID"gt0022alt/pgt
- ltp n"dept"gtPsychologylt/pgt
- ltp n"assignment type"gtessaylt/pgt
- lt/sourceDescgt
- lttitlePart type"main" rend"bold/underline"gtImagi
ne you are designing a curriculum for primary
school science classes. Consider how research in
cognitive development could help you decide which
concepts are taught when.lt/titlePartgt - ltpgtThe structure of education has been shaped by
many cognitive psychologists over the past...
110003b simple ethnography
- ltsourceDescgt
- ltp n"essayID"gt0003blt/pgt
- ltp n"dept"gtSociologylt/pgt
- ltp n"assignment type"gtethnographylt/pgt
- lt/sourceDescgt
- lttitlePart type"main" rend"bold"gtAn urban
ethnography of two bookshops in Leamington Spa,
November 2004. lt/titlePartgt - lttitlePartgtBy xxx, History and Sociology. Tutor
zzz.lt/titlePartgt - ltpgtOn Friday afternoon, the 26th of November, I
conducted my ethnographic observation in an urban
setting in the centre of Leamington. My first... - ltp type"wc"gtWord count 1443. lt/pgt
120006a - complex, textual
- ltsourceDescgt
- ltp n"essayID"gt0006alt/pgt
- ltp n"dept"gtBiologylt/pgt
- ltp n"assignment type"gtreportlt/pgt
- lt/sourceDescgt
- lttitlePart type"main" rend"bold"gtExperiment 15
Aspects of bacterial genetics Conjugation and
Recombinationlt/titlePartgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtAim / Abstract lt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtIntroduction lt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtMethod lt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtResults lt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtDiscussion lt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtConclusion lt/pgt
- ltdiv type"appendix"gtltp rend"bold"gtAppendix lt/pgt
130006c - complex, ideational/textual
- ltsourceDescgt
- ltp n"essayID"gt0006clt/pgt
- ltp n"dept"gtBiologylt/pgt
- ltp n"assignment type"gtessaylt/pgt
- lt/sourceDescgt
- lttitlePart type"main" rend"bold"gtEndosymbiotic
Theorylt/titlePartgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtAbstractlt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtIntroductionlt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtHistory of
Endosymbiotic Theorylt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtFactors in favour
of mitochondrial and chloroplast
endosymbiosislt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtSummarylt/pgt
- ltp type"wc"gtWord count 2700lt/pgt
- ltdiv type"bib"gtltp rend"bold"gtREFERENCElt/pgt
143035a - complex, ideational
- ltsourceDescgt
- ltp n"essayID"gt3035alt/pgt
- ltp n"dept"gtHealth and social carelt/pgt
- ltp n"assignment type"gtresearch proposalslt/pgt
- lt/sourceDescgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold/underline"gtResearch
Proposal Randomized Control Triallt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gtExplanatory
research questionlt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gtNull
hypothesislt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gtAlternate
hypothesislt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold/underline"gtStudy
designlt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gtParticipantslt/pgt
- ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gtInterventionslt/pgt
- ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gtData
collectionlt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gtReliability and
validitylt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gtData analysislt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold/underline"gtEthical
issueslt/pgt
150023c - complex, interpersonal/ideational
- ltsourceDescgt
- ltp n"essayID"gt0023clt/pgt
- ltp n"dept"gtEngineeringlt/pgt
- ltp n"assignment type"gtreportlt/pgt
- lt/sourceDescgt
- lttitlePartgtES21V INTERMEDIATE TECHNOLOGY AND
FIELD COURSElt/titlePartgt - lttitlePartgtAssignment 1lt/titlePartgt
- lttitlePart type"main" rend"italic"gtMicro-hydro
reportlt/titlePartgt - lttitlePartgt000lt/titlePartgt
- lttitlePartgtSecond Year EDAT Undergraduatelt/titlePa
rtgt - lttitlePartgtI002lt/titlePartgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"underline"gtBackgroundlt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"underline"gtWhat is the
state of play of the stream?lt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"underline"gtWhats the
estimation of the pipe?lt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"underline"gtWhat about
ROCs?lt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"underline"gtIs connection
to the grid an option?lt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"underline"gtHow about a
new turbine?lt/pgt
16compound assignments
- parts are /- independent
- unordered
- not cohesive
- embedded
- whole "functions as a unity with respect to its
environment" (Halliday and Hasan 1976) - embedding
- parallel or complementary parts (aaa /
abc) - simple or complex embedding (bbb /
a1bba3)
- self sufficient
- parallel
- (Hoey 2001)
173042f parallel, simple
ltsourceDescgt ltp n"essayID"gt3042flt/pgt ltp
n"dept"gtHospitality, leisure and tourism
managementlt/pgt ltp n"assignment type"gtanalytical
bibliographieslt/pgt lt/sourceDescgt lttitlePartgtTOURI
SM IMPACT ANALYSIS, U57266.lt/titlePartgt lttitlePart
gtModule leader zzzlt/titlePartgt lttitlePartgtCOURSEW
ORK ELEMENT ONE lt/titlePartgt lttitlePart
type"main" rend"bold/italic"gtAnalytical
bibliographies lt/titlePartgt lttitlePartgtxxxlt/titleP
artgt lttitlePartgt000lt/titlePartgt lttitlePartgtMarch
2005lt/titlePartgt ltdiv level"1"gtltp
rend"bold"gtJones, D L, Jurowski, C Uysal, M
(2000), "Host community residents attitudes a
comparison of environmental viewpoints", Tourism
and Hospitality Research, 2 (2)
129-156.lt/pgt ltdiv level"2"gtltp
rend"bold"gtNoteslt/pgt ltdiv level"2"gtltp
rend"bold"gtComment Analysislt/pgt ltdiv
level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gtEvidence to support
argument lt/pgt ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gtKey
linkslt/pgt
/cont
183042f parallel, simple -cont-
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtDyer, P, Aberdeen,
L Schuler, S (2003), "Tourism impacts on an
Australian indigenous community a Djabugay case
study", Tourism Management, 24 (1) 83-95.lt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gtNoteslt/pgt
- ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gtComment
Analysislt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gtEvidence to
support argumentlt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gtKey linkslt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtSheldon, P J
Abenoja, T (2001), "Resident attitudes in a
mature destination the case of Waikiki", Tourism
Management, 22 435-443.lt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gtNoteslt/pgt
- ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gtComment
Analysislt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gtEvidence to
support argumentlt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gtKey linkslt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtLynch, P A (1999),
"Host attitudes towards guests in the homestay
sector", Tourism and Hospitality Research, 1 (2)
119-144.lt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gtNoteslt/pgt
- ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gtComment
Analysislt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gtEvidence to
support argumentlt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"bold"gtKey linkslt/pgt
196066g complementary, simple
- ltsourceDescgt
- ltp n"essayID"gt6066glt/pgt
- ltp n"dept"gtClassicslt/pgt
- ltp n"assignment type"gtessay reviewlt/pgt
- lt/sourceDescgt
- lttitlePart type"main" rend"underline"gtIn the
Iliad, is being a good hero - lttitlePart rend"underline"gtBy xxxlt/titlePartgt
- ltpgtAlthough there are many heroes in the Iliad
who are rulers - ltdiv type"bib"gtltp rend"underline"gtBibliographylt/
pgt - lttitlePart type"main" rend"underline"gtIn the
Iliad, is being a good hero - lttitlePart rend"underline"gtLiterary
Criticismlt/titlePartgt - lttitlePart rend"underline"gtBy xxxlt/titlePartgt
- ltpgt"So they spoke in tears to their dear son. But
all their - ltdiv type"bib"gtltp rend"underline"gtBibliographylt/
pgt
206010a complementary, complex
- ltsourceDescgt
- ltp n"essayID"gt6010alt/pgt
- ltp n"dept"gtLinguisticslt/pgt
- ltp n"assignment type"gtassignmentlt/pgt
- lt/sourceDescgt
- lttitlePart type"main" rend"bold"gt Assignment 2.
lt/titlePartgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtTask 1. An
exercise in multimodal discourse analysis.lt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtTask 2. An
interview concerning an area of contested
language use.lt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"underline"gtIntroductionlt/
pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"underline"gtExperiment
lt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"underline"gtMethodlt/pgt
- ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"underline"gtResults lt/pgt
- ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"underline"gtCommentslt/pgt
- ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"underline"gtConclusion
lt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"underline"gtConclusion to
tasks 1 and 2.lt/pgt - ltp type"wc"gt1097 wordslt/pgt
- ltdiv type"appendix"gtltp rend"bold"gtAppendix
1lt/pgt - ltdiv type"appendix"gtltp rend"bold"gtAppendix
2lt/pgt
216045a parallel, simple
- ltsourceDescgt
- ltp n"essayID"gt6045alt/pgt
- ltp n"dept"gtLinguisticslt/pgt
- ltp n"assignment type"gtessaylt/pgt
- lt/sourceDescgt
- lttitlePart type"main" rend"bold/underline"gtChimp
anzees can use signs, but do they have
language?lt/titlePartgt - lttitlePart type"main" rend"bold/underline"gt
Childrens reading and writing has to be learnt
in contrast to speech.lt/titlePartgt - lttitlePart type"main" rend"bold/underline"gt
Does understanding the organisation of language
in the brain contribute to the study of
language?lt/titlePartgt - ltdiv type"bib"gtltp rend"bold"gtBIBLIOGRAPHYlt/pgt
226033g complementary, simple
- ltsourceDescgt
- ltp n"essayID"gt6033glt/pgt
- ltp n"dept"gtArchaeologylt/pgt
- ltp n"assignment type"gtskeletal reportlt/pgt
- lt/sourceDescgt
- lttitlePart type"main" rend"bold"gtSkeletal
Reportlt/titlePartgt - lttitlePartgtName of assessor lt/titlePartgt
- lttitlePartgtSkeleton number (500) 20lt/titlePartgt
- lttitlePartgtContext Hulton Abbey
00273lt/titlePartgt - ltdiv type"ToC"gtltpgtlt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold/underline"gt1)
Description of Preservationlt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold/underline"gt2) Sex
Estimatelt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"underline"gtSkulllt/pgt
- ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"underline"gtPelvislt/pgt
- ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"underline"gtMetrical
Datalt/pgt
/cont
236033g complementary, simple -cont-
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold/underline"gtAge
Estimatelt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"underline"gtSkulllt/pgt
- ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"underline"gtDentitionlt/pgt
- ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"underline"gtRib
Ageinglt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"underline"gtPelvislt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold/underline"gtStature
Estimate lt/pgt - ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"underline"gtUlna lt/pgt
- ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"underline"gtRadiuslt/pgt
- ltdiv level"2"gtltp rend"underline"gtFemur lt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold/underline"gtSummarylt/
pgt - lttitlePart type"main" rend"bold/underline"gtDiary
lt/titlePartgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold/underline"gtPractical
session 1lt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold/underline"gtPractical
session 2lt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold/underline"gtPractical
session 3lt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold/underline"gtPractical
session 4lt/pgt
243. Characterising student writing
- By marking up headings on all 3000 assignments,
we will be able to check emic assignment types
against how the assignments are partitioned
(simple, complex, compound) and how the sections
function for the whole corpus. - We will also be able to describe these types
across the disciplines.
25Psychology Essays and Biochemistry Lab Reports
- ltsourceDescgt
- ltp n"essayID"gt0007blt/pgt
- ltp n"dept"gtBiochemistrylt/pgt
- ltp n"assignment type"gtreportlt/pgt
- lt/sourceDescgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtIntroductionlt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtMethodlt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtResultslt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtDiscussionlt/pgt
26Engineering Lab Reports
- ltsourceDescgt
- ltp n"essayID"gt0021alt/pgt
- ltp n"dept"gtEngineeringlt/pgt
- ltp n"assignment type"gtreportlt/pgt
- lt/sourceDescgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gt3.0
Introductionlt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gt4.0 Theorylt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gt5.0 Apparatus and
Methodslt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gt6.0 Observations
and Resultslt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gt7.0 Analysis and
Discussionlt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gt8.0 Conclusionslt/pgt
27Sociology and Politics
- ltsourceDescgt
- ltp n"essayID"gt0021alt/pgt
- ltp n"dept"gtPoliticslt/pgt
- ltp n"assignment type"gtessaylt/pgt
- lt/sourceDescgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtIntroductionlt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtDefining the
Termslt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtThatcher -
Instigating Changelt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtBlair - Advancing
the Trend?lt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtThe Importance of
Contextlt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtCabinet
Revival?lt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtltp rend"bold"gtConclusionlt/pgt
28Medical case histories
(Nesi and Gardner 2006)
- ltsourceDescgt
- ltp n"essayID"gt0047clt/pgt
- ltp n"dept"gtMedicinelt/pgt
- ltp n"assignment type"gtessaylt/pgt
- lt/sourceDescgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtReferral informationlt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtHistorylt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtAnalysis of historylt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtPhysical examination and mental
state examinationlt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtAnalysis of history and
examinationlt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtFormulation of the patient's
problem(s)lt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtManagementlt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtOutcomelt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtEvidence based care and issues for
researchlt/pgt - ltdiv level"1"gtCommentarylt/pgt
- ltdiv level"1"gtImpact on your learninglt/pgt
29References
Halliday, M.A.K. and R. Hasan. 1976. Cohesion in
English. London Longman. Hamp-Lyons, L. 1988.
"The product before Task-related influences on
the writer." In P. C. Robinson (ed.) Academic
Writing Process and Product. ELT Docs. 129.
Modern English. Hoey, M. 2001. Textual
interaction an introduction to written discourse
analysis. London Routledge. Martin, J.R. 1992.
English text system and structure. Amsterdam
Benjamins. Nesi, H. and S. Gardner 2006. Nesi,
H. S. Gardner (forthcoming Sept 2006)
"Variation in disciplinary culture University
tutors views on assessed writing tasks." In
Kiely, R., Clibbon, G., Rea-Dickins, P.
Woodfield, H. (eds) Language, Culture and
Identity in Applied Linguistics. London Equinox
Publishing. Ravelli, L. 2004. In L. Ravelli and
R. Ellis (eds) pp. 131-152. Analysing Academic
Writing Contextualized Frameworks. London
Continuum.
- Sheena Gardner and Jasper Holmes. University of
Warwick
j.w.holmes_at_warwick.ac.uk
s.f.gardner_at_warwick.ac.uk