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Stylistic Variations in Thematic Structure across Academic Genres: A Case Study of EFL Graduate Students

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Title: Stylistic Variations in Thematic Structure across Academic Genres: A Case Study of EFL Graduate Students
Language: English
Authors: Nujood Al-Reshaid (ORCID 0000-0003-2413-6423), Ahmad I. Alhojailan (ORCID 0000-0002-3553-6652)
Source: Educational Process: International Journal. Article e2025164 2025 15.
Availability: UNIVERSITEPARK Limited. iTOWER Plaza (No61, 9th floor) Merkez Mh Akar Cd No3, Sisli, Istanbul, Turkey 34382. e-mail: editor@edupij.com; Web site: http://www.edupij.com/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 16
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Graduate Students, Literary Genres, Writing Strategies, Semantics, Academic Language, English (Second Language), Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, Connected Discourse, Writing Assignments, Essays, Writing Instruction, Interpersonal Communication, Language Styles, Language Variation, Females, Process Approach (Writing), Foreign Countries, Student Attitudes
Geographic Terms: Saudi Arabia
ISSN: 2147-0901
2564-8020
Abstract: Background/purpose: Academic writing in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) poses challenges for graduate students, particularly in achieving coherence and organization. Thematic choices play a crucial role in guiding readers and ensuring textual cohesion. While Theme selection has been explored in various contexts, little research has examined how Saudi female graduate students use thematic structures across academic genres. This study investigates their thematic choices to understand how they adapt to academic writing conventions and genre expectations. Materials/methods: The study analyzed 108 written assignments from Saudi female graduate students across different academic genres. Semi-structured interviews with 18 students provided further insights into their thematic choices and writing strategies. Using a content analysis approach based on Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) theory, particularly Martin and Rose's (2007) semantic approach, the study categorized thematic structures into topical, textual, and interpersonal Themes to assess their distribution and function. Results: Findings reveal a dominant use of topical, unmarked Themes across all genres, with variations in marked, textual, and interpersonal themes. Research papers featured more topical, unmarked Themes, reinforcing subject focus and formality, while essays used more textual and interpersonal Themes for engagement and flow. Genre expectations influenced students' thematic choices, reflecting their awareness of academic writing norms. Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of Theme selection in enhancing coherence and aligning with genre conventions. The findings contribute to SFL research by highlighting how Theme variation supports textual cohesion and communication goals, offering insights for improving EFL academic writing instruction.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1475809
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  Data: Stylistic Variations in Thematic Structure across Academic Genres: A Case Study of EFL Graduate Students
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nujood+Al-Reshaid%22">Nujood Al-Reshaid</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2413-6423">0000-0003-2413-6423</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ahmad+I%2E+Alhojailan%22">Ahmad I. Alhojailan</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3553-6652">0000-0002-3553-6652</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Educational+Process%3A+International+Journal%22"><i>Educational Process: International Journal</i></searchLink>. Article e2025164 2025 15.
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  Data: UNIVERSITEPARK Limited. iTOWER Plaza (No61, 9th floor) Merkez Mh Akar Cd No3, Sisli, Istanbul, Turkey 34382. e-mail: editor@edupij.com; Web site: http://www.edupij.com/
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Graduate+Students%22">Graduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Literary+Genres%22">Literary Genres</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Writing+Strategies%22">Writing Strategies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Semantics%22">Semantics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Language%22">Academic Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22English+%28Second+Language%29%22">English (Second Language)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Second+Language+Learning%22">Second Language Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Second+Language+Instruction%22">Second Language Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Connected+Discourse%22">Connected Discourse</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Writing+Assignments%22">Writing Assignments</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Essays%22">Essays</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Writing+Instruction%22">Writing Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interpersonal+Communication%22">Interpersonal Communication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Styles%22">Language Styles</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Variation%22">Language Variation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Females%22">Females</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Process+Approach+%28Writing%29%22">Process Approach (Writing)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Saudi+Arabia%22">Saudi Arabia</searchLink>
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  Data: 2147-0901<br />2564-8020
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background/purpose: Academic writing in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) poses challenges for graduate students, particularly in achieving coherence and organization. Thematic choices play a crucial role in guiding readers and ensuring textual cohesion. While Theme selection has been explored in various contexts, little research has examined how Saudi female graduate students use thematic structures across academic genres. This study investigates their thematic choices to understand how they adapt to academic writing conventions and genre expectations. Materials/methods: The study analyzed 108 written assignments from Saudi female graduate students across different academic genres. Semi-structured interviews with 18 students provided further insights into their thematic choices and writing strategies. Using a content analysis approach based on Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) theory, particularly Martin and Rose's (2007) semantic approach, the study categorized thematic structures into topical, textual, and interpersonal Themes to assess their distribution and function. Results: Findings reveal a dominant use of topical, unmarked Themes across all genres, with variations in marked, textual, and interpersonal themes. Research papers featured more topical, unmarked Themes, reinforcing subject focus and formality, while essays used more textual and interpersonal Themes for engagement and flow. Genre expectations influenced students' thematic choices, reflecting their awareness of academic writing norms. Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of Theme selection in enhancing coherence and aligning with genre conventions. The findings contribute to SFL research by highlighting how Theme variation supports textual cohesion and communication goals, offering insights for improving EFL academic writing instruction.
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 16
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Graduate Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Literary Genres
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Writing Strategies
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      – SubjectFull: Semantics
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      – SubjectFull: Writing Instruction
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      – SubjectFull: Interpersonal Communication
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      – SubjectFull: Language Styles
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      – SubjectFull: Language Variation
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      – SubjectFull: Females
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      – SubjectFull: Process Approach (Writing)
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
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      – SubjectFull: Saudi Arabia
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      – TitleFull: Stylistic Variations in Thematic Structure across Academic Genres: A Case Study of EFL Graduate Students
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              Y: 2025
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