An Empirical Study: Impact Of Discourse Mode Variation Upon The Writing Performance

A writing performance and the score it gets are the comprehensive results of many factors interacting with each other. Compared to the effects from variables of content area, raters, rating scales, scoring context and test-takers, much less is known about the impact of mode upon writing performance.This paper explores the impact of mode variation upon students' writing performances. Based on the rich theoretical background, an empirical study is carried out to check the two hypotheses: 1) students usually show an uneven profile across different discourse modes of writing; 2) analyzed componentially, the extent to which variations in discourse mode exert influences upon each sub-skill of writing is different. Analytical scoring and MTMM analysis are adopted in the research procedure. According to the results of the empirically based study, the two hypotheses get positively evidenced.Further, applications of the study to CET writing are suggested: 1) instead of giving a topic and an outline, requiring students to make a strictly controlled writing, for the purpose of validity, it is better to set a general topic or provide some background information which is fit for making compositions of different discourse modes; or 2) a frequent variation of discourse modes in CET writing is absolutely necessary when students are required to write on one topic only.