Research Article
Abstract
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This study aims to investigate the quality of argumentative writing among Korean university students in an EFL context, focusing on lexical features and rhetorical strategies. The data comprised eight pieces of writing produced by twenty-four students as part of a team project. These texts were analyzed for their lexical density, diversity, and sophistication to assess their impact on overall writing quality, using Pearson correlation coefficients. Toulmin’s model of argumentation was also utilized to evaluate rhetorical structures within the texts. The findings revealed that higher lexical density, diversity, sophistication and effective use of Toulmin’s elements correlated with better writing quality. However, the study suggests that relying solely on Toulmin’s elements is insufficient for a comprehensive assessment of writing quality. The results emphasize the importance of a balanced approach in EFL writing practices, integrating both lexical development and rhetorical training to produce high-quality argumentative writing.
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- Publisher :The Modern Linguistic Society of Korea
- Publisher(Ko) :한국현대언어학회
- Journal Title :The Journal of Studies in Language
- Journal Title(Ko) :언어연구
- Volume : 40
- No :3
- Pages :335-349
- DOI :https://doi.org/10.18627/jslg.40.3.202411.335