The purpose of this investigation is to find out the aspect of the interaction within a small writing group to compose an essay. The investigation will also aim to deduce inductively how the interaction affects the texts of the students. In other word...
The purpose of this investigation is to find out the aspect of the interaction within a small writing group to compose an essay. The investigation will also aim to deduce inductively how the interaction affects the texts of the students. In other words, the investigation aims to find out how the aspect of linguistic interaction appears during the process of organizing meanings, prior to the essay writing itself, and the effects of that interaction on the writing of the texts. Thus, documented theoretical basis and methodology on how to analyze linguistic interaction within a small writing group was used in conjunction with research and interpretation based on actual data from classes. Both theoretical analysis and empirical analysis were mutually supplemented for each other. The arguments and conclusions arising from such research are as follows.
In Chapter 2, the concept and characteristics of essay writing were outlined, and the purpose of essay writing in small groups was identified. Also the educational meaning of linguistic interaction between members of the small writing group, during the process of organizing meanings was examined, based on theoretical basis. First, the concept and characteristics of essays was observed and the core characteristics that should be taught importantly in writing essays were emphasized. These core characteristics became the background for chapter 3, where elements for teaching essay writing were selected. Also, to establish educational meaning that small group essay writing can bring positive effects during the process of meaning organization, theoretical basis was inquired. Also, to provide theoretical basis to analyze linguistic interaction within small groups,structures of cooperative interaction and conflictive interaction were used to examine the interactions as the basis to analyze linguistic interaction within small groups.
In chapter 3, the subject of the research, the methodology to analyze, and the steps of teaching were suggested, using the content discussed in chapter 2 as a basis. The linguistic interaction within small essay writing groups was observed and the methodology to analyze its aspect was designed. The text on the subject of the research, the method of analysis and the teaching process was written.
This research began on aclass of 6th grade students in an elementary school located in Chung-cheong nam do, of Korea. Together with the preparation for this research, the pre-tuition material for this research was taught from May 2007 to June 2007, and the actual research proceeded on July 2007, and four trials were made. To observe the aspect of linguistic interaction within a small writing group, the linguistic interactions were recorded and transcribed. Other collection methods involved observing the class, conversations with the students, analysis of the texts written by the students, and the evaluations by the students.
In chapter 4, the aspect of linguistic interaction within small writing groups during an essay writing activity was analyzed, based on observing the class, transcribed data and on the actual texts written. So the structure of the linguistic interaction between the members of the small group wasexamined, and how the aspect of interaction has affected the students' texts were interpreted, focusing on the textswritten by each student. Also to examine what effects small group writing activity has on the affective side of the students - such as the incentive to write, and the students'attitudes - the students went through some conversations after the class and the composed evaluation was looked into.
The summary of the research results are as follows:
First, linguistic interaction within a small group can be broadly divided into two structures; Cooperative and conflictive. Cooperative interactions were shown through micro strategies such as to respond, to be responded to, to accept, to ask for specification, and to add comments, or build an explanation. The conflictive interactions showed aspects such as to object, to be objected and to deny one's opinion.
Secondly, the cooperative and conflictive linguistic interaction became a stimulant to actively carry out meaning organization and as a result, it brought positive effects on the texts. In terms of the content of the text, the students suggested plentiful basis for their arguments as their meaning organization process was active. Also their validity for their arguments improved. In terms of the constitution of the texts, to improve their validity of their arguments, the students expanded on the elements while composing the texts to justify their arguments by considering their argument, basis, supportive basis, and the opposition argument. In terms of expression of the texts, there were many statements and expressions that expressed their own thoughts and this seems to be a result from lack of understanding of logical statements and of teaching.
Thirdly, linguistic interaction within members of a small group in writing essays brought positive effects on the affective area of essay writing for the students. For the students who lacked writing abilities, it gave them confidence and for most students, it became a meaningful opportunity to resolve the preconception that essay writing is difficult and hard. This research has value in that it has identified the aspect of linguistic interaction within small group members and the positive effects that linguistic interaction has on composing texts. Thus this research will provide useful information to complement factors that were in need for the students to compose essays, based on in-depth research on the linguistic interaction that occurs within small group writing activities. Also this research could become an accelerator to lead succeeding research on linguistic interaction within small group writing activities from various perspectives.