Application Of Cohesion Theory To English Writing Teaching Based On Senior English Curriculum Standards

As an important branch of Second Language Acquisition, the study of English writing has drawn much of linguists'attention in this field. So far, many experts home and abroad have studied the relationship between cohesion and English writing. These studies show that there is a close relationship between cohesion and the quality of English compositions. English writing, which is a major form of language communication, plays an important role in English study. English writing ability was a significant skill in English teaching. These studies show that there is a close relationship between cohesion and the quality of English compositions. This thesis makes an analysis of the application and function of cohesive devices in the English writing of senior high school students.The thesis first enumerates the importance of English writing as well as the writing requirements of Senior English Curriculum Standards. The thesis also points out the present problems of English writing in Chinese high school students'compositions.Secondly, the thesis describes the definitions of cohesion, the classifications of cohesive ties (devices) based on cohesive theory by Halliday & Hasan (1976), which provides a theoretical framework of the present thesis. Since the publication of Cohesion in English in 1976 by Halliday and Hasan, textual cohesion and coherence has become an important notion in text analysis. Halliday and Hasan's theory, which has a major impact on the understanding and the teaching of cohesion, is applied in the study. There are five cohesion devices in English: reference, substitution, ellipsis, conjunction, and lexical cohesion. Cohesion is a necessary though not a sufficient condition for the creation of text. Using cohesive devices correctly is only one part of one's writing abilities.Finally, the author has applied these theories to English writing teaching and constructed a'Explaining---Practicing ---Correcting ---Guided writing---Free writing'teaching model. At the same time the author has performed guided writing and free writing by using task-based language and process approach and made full use of the reading passages in senior English textbooks to make our students understand and learn to use cohesive devices to help students overcome some writing problems and improve writing quality.