UTILIZATION OF SYNTACTIC UTILIZATION OF SYNTACTIC STRUCTURES STRUCTURES

THROUGH REVISION CHANGES OFTHROUGH REVISION CHANGES OF ENGLISH STUDENTS ENGLISH STUDENTS

AT RAMBHAI BARNI RAJABHAT AT RAMBHAI BARNI RAJABHAT UNIVERSITYUNIVERSITY

Dr. Tuenjai PinkerdDr. Tuenjai PinkerdRambhai Barni Rajabhat Univerity, Rambhai Barni Rajabhat Univerity,

(Language, Literature and Reading) (Language, Literature and Reading) The Ohio State University, Columbus, The Ohio State University, Columbus,

Ohio, USA.Ohio, USA.

Background of the StudyBackground of the Study

Syntax is the study of structures or

patterns which are known as grammar.

A sentence is a string of words, but A sentence is a string of words, but not every string of words is a not every string of words is a sentence. sentence.

Sentences are characterized bySentences are characterized bya very important kind of grammatical a very important kind of grammatical rule.rule.

Studying Syntax: a student must Studying Syntax: a student must learn to use syntactic structures. learn to use syntactic structures.

Writing is a good tool for structure or Writing is a good tool for structure or

pattern practice.pattern practice.

Revision shows writing and thinking

processes.

Syntactic structures should be

implemented through writing and

revision process.

This classroom study showed This classroom study showed implementing syntactic structures implementing syntactic structures

through writing and revision changes.through writing and revision changes.

Related TheoriesRelated Theories

Sentences of all languages have a deep

structure, which gives the meaning of the

sentence, and a surface structure,which

gives the form of the sentence as it is used

in communication.

A deep structure is an abstract object; it A deep structure is an abstract object; it is a structure one assumes on the basis is a structure one assumes on the basis of the meaning of a sentence and its of the meaning of a sentence and its

syntax.syntax.

A surface structure is closer to physical A surface structure is closer to physical reality in that it concretely specifies the reality in that it concretely specifies the syntactic structure necessary for spoken syntactic structure necessary for spoken or written communication.or written communication.

Writing ProcessWriting Process

During a writing process even young

writers learn writing through revision.

Writers are able to take control of their Writers are able to take control of their writing processes. writing processes.

A craft of writing is a process of shaping A craft of writing is a process of shaping

material toward an end.material toward an end.

There is a long, painstaking, patient There is a long, painstaking, patient process demanded to learn how to shape process demanded to learn how to shape material to a level where it is satisfying to material to a level where it is satisfying to the person doing the crafting.the person doing the crafting.

During the writing process writers know During the writing process writers know they will be able to go back to deal withthey will be able to go back to deal with conventions successfully.conventions successfully.

RevisionRevision

Revision show us what the writers see in

their writing when they change something.

A writer demonstrates well concerning A writer demonstrates well concerning his/her revision.his/her revision.

For example - erases a word, sounds it For example - erases a word, sounds it through again, writes it more neatly on through again, writes it more neatly on the line, draws a line through his/her first the line, draws a line through his/her first sentence,sentence,

and rewrites it below where he/she has and rewrites it below where he/she has skipped lines to accommodate revisions, skipped lines to accommodate revisions, stops, rereads the entire page,marks a stops, rereads the entire page,marks a number one in the margin of the first number one in the margin of the first page, draws an arrow to the bottom of page, draws an arrow to the bottom of the page, turns it, and marks a number the page, turns it, and marks a number one in the margin of the next page.one in the margin of the next page.

The taxonomy of the revision changes The taxonomy of the revision changes

(Faigley and Witte, 1950: 403):(Faigley and Witte, 1950: 403):

Objective of the StudyObjective of the Study

The main objectives of this study were to find out how students implemented syntactic structures through writing and how they revised their writing.

ProcedureProcedure

Subjects

The subjects of this study were 52 Business English students who enrolled in the Syntax I class in academic year 2008.

MethodMethod

The study was within the Syntax I course.

Nine English syntactic patterns were

introduced to class through presentation,

group work, and discussion.

Data collectionData collection

The students were assigned as a test in

class to write freely about themselves.

and they were encouraged to implement the

nine syntactic patterns they studied in class for

their writing.

Then they were informed to revise the first

draft as the tests in class again for the second

and third drafts in the following weeks.

AnalysisAnalysis

Words, sentences, assigned syntactic

patterns, revision changes were coded,

counted and calculated for percentage.

Taxonomy of revision changes was

employed for analysis.

ResultsResultsTable 1: Number of sentences the students utilized syntactic

structures through writing for three drafts.

Table 2: Percentage of sentences the students Table 2: Percentage of sentences the students utilized syntactic structures through writing for utilized syntactic structures through writing for three drafts.three drafts.

Table 4: Percentage of sentences the students Table 4: Percentage of sentences the students showed their revision changes through their writing showed their revision changes through their writing for three drafts.for three drafts.

ConclusionConclusion

The study revealed that the students

demonstrated their distinction for syntactic

structures on the ‘N1 be N1’. The results

showed their high level of thinking for

revision using meaning preservation and

microstructure changes.

SuggestionsSuggestions

1. Implementation of syntactic structures for writing is recommended.2. Revision should be encouraged for writing classes.3. Revision changes are tools to investigate thinking process.4. Syntactic structures and revision changes should be part of a writing curriculum.

Thank you for your participation.

Have a good day.

Enjoy campus tour.