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Interactional and syntactic complexity in argumentative EFL discourse : Academic essays , online discussions , oral debates /

Mayada Mohamed Tawfik Zaki

Interactional and syntactic complexity in argumentative EFL discourse : Academic essays , online discussions , oral debates / التفاعل و النحو المعقد فى الخطاب الجدلى للغة الإنجليزية كلغة أجنبية : المقال الأكاديمى و المناقشة الإلكترونية و المناظرة الشفهية Mayada Mohamed Tawfik Zaki ; Supervised Ola Hafez - Cairo : Mayada Mohamed Tawfik Zaki , 2017 - 607 P. : charts ; 30cm

Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Arts - Department of English

The present study investigated the use of complex syntax, grammatical accuracy, interaction argumentation quality and critical thinking in the argumentative discourse of the final academic essays, oral debates and online discussions (i.e. synchronous online forums) of EFL undergraduate students (N= 54) enrolled in a 12 week module of English for academic purposes. The methodology encompassed qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis. All data were transcribed and coded qualitatively. Then results were calculated using ANOVA and t-tests to find the differences across tasks for each variable. Significant findings were revealed regarding the influence of synchronous online forums on students performance compared to academic essays and oral debates. Pedagogical implications then highlighted how synchronous online forums can be used in the rhetoric and composition EFL classroom for both the use of language and critical thinking



Academic writing Argumentation Critical thinking