Context Based Study Of Errors In Non-English Major Students' Writings

As output, writing can reflect the real language level and competence of the learners. Through the training in writing, both language performance and competence of learners can be promoted apparently. Based on psychology, linguistics and applied linguistics, lost of educators and researchers have done numerous researches on errors in writing. The researches, to a great deal, are on language itself such as grammar, spelling, word choice etc. Few researches refer to the errors on discourse level which plays an important role in promoting writing quality.With error analysis theory and discourse analysis theory as the basement, this paper analyzes the errors made by non-English major college students in the aspect of discourse, digs the sources and try to make some suggestions on writing teaching and how to avoid errors at discourse level. The sample involves 85 students of BUPT from Computer Science major and Science major. Altogether 153 pieces of argumentative essays are collected from both groups, among which 125 pieces of samples are valid.Based on the errors collected the paper makes analysis from coherence and cohesion, and superstructure perspective. With reference to result of the questionnaire on writing knowledge, the paper concludes that problems at discourse level are severe. Despite the lack of knowledge on language (grammar, vocabulary etc.), the short of knowledge on discourse and ill writing habits take the most part in causing discourse problems. Thus the paper puts forward three suggestions on promoting writing level. First, knowledge on the whole picture of an essay should be emphasized. Secondly, teachers should take the students'learning style into consideration, adapt their teaching strategies and methods and assist the students identifying their own learning process and learning habits. Third, good writing habits should be nurtured.The paper consisted of five chapters. The first chapter is the introduction part which deals with the current situation of non-English major students'writing and the significance of this research. The second chapter is the literature review. Error analysis theory and discourse analysis theory are displayed in this chapter. The third chapter is research design. It introduces the subject, instruments, procedure and data collection. The fourth chapter is data analysis. It presents a detailed analysis on the errors detected with examples and their possible sources. Chapter five makes a conclusion of the whole research and also put up some suggestions on writing teaching.