Date: November 17th, 11:30-12:30, LA 210
Guest Speaker: CharlenePolio, Michigan State University
Title: Linguistic development in second language writing
Abstract
I will report on two semester-long longitudinal studies of L2 writing development. To situate the studies, I will begin with a short summary of the research on language development in L2 writing based on a review article (Polio& Park, in press). I will highlight the various approaches that researchers have taken and discuss some of the methodological challenges. The first study involves a data set that was analyzed from a variety of perspectives, the results of which will be published in an upcoming special issue of theJournal of Second Language Writing(Connor-Linton &Polio, in press). These data were analyzed for changes in accuracy, complexity, collocation, and discourse-specific features. What is particularly striking is that change occurred over one semester in most features except accuracy. The second study (Yoon &Polio, in progress) attempted to correct some of the methodological problems in previous studies by controlling for topic and genre. Data were collect six times over the course of a semester with students alternating between narrative and argumentative genres on counterbalanced topics. For some complexity measures, change over time was found, but there was a strong genre effect. Preliminary results show little influence of time or genre on accuracy. Based on the results of the literature review and the two studies, I will propose a research agenda (Polio, in progress) for the study of linguistic development in L2 writing.
Biography
CharlenePoliois a Professor at Michigan State University where she directed the MA TESOL program for many years. She is the outgoing editor of theAnnual Review of Applied Linguisticsand the co-editor ofModern Language Journal. The primary focus of her research is research methods in L2 writing and the interface of L2 writing and SLA research. She is currently on sabbatical at Georgetown University where she is working on a book about research methods in L2 writing (with Debra Friedman) and a book about using authentic materials (with Eve Zyzik).