In the Hallidayan framework, theme and rheme form the message structure of the clause (Halliday & Matthiessen, 2004, p. 64). The patterning of theme and rheme in the text accounts for how the main ideas are structured and developed. The pioneering work of Daneš (1970, 1974) on thematic progression (TP) has been particularly valuable in showing how thematic patterning affects the flow and development of the message in various ways. Using the Hallidayan framework (incorporating Daneš’s TP), 20 essays written by upper secondary school students in Singapore are analyzed for theme and rheme. The good and weak essays in the corpus are compared to find out if there are differences in the way the two groups of writers organise the message structure of their writing. The results show that there is little difference in the selection of theme between the two groups of essays. In terms of TP, however, a striking difference is noted. The good essays are characterised by elaborated developments of theme and rheme. The developments in the weak essays, in contrast, are thin.
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ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION THEME AND RHEME Basic Notions Thematic Progression RELATED STUDIES CORPUS AND METHODOLOGY Overview of the Singaporean Education System Corpus Methodology FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION Choice of Theme Marked Themes Thematic Structure IMPLICATIONS AND CONCLUDING REMARKS THE AUTHOR REFERENCES APPENDIX
The goals of Asia TEFL are to promote scholarship, disseminate information, and facilitate cross-cultural understanding among persons concerned with the teaching and learning of English in Asia. In order to accomplish this, Asia TEFL will pursue the following goals:
1. To link ELT professionals in joint research on issues and concerns regarding English teaching and learning in the Asian context.
2. To publish an academic journal, The Asia TEFL Journal, as an internationally recognized journal in the field of English language teaching.
3. To host conferences and seminars addressing important issues concerning ELT in Asia.
4. To develop proficiency guidelines and assessment methods designed for the needs of the Asian context.
5. To develop programs for Asian learners and teachers of English to build their English language proficiency and cultural understanding and provide them with the skills required to be efficient English teaching professionals.