Karen S. Taylor|Joshua Lawrence|Carol McDonald Connor|Catherine E. Snow
Cognitive and linguistic features of adolescent argumentative writing: Do connectives signal more complex reasoning?
University of California, Irvine|University of Oslo|University of California, Irvine
common core state standards common core state standards initiative 2010 feature argumentative writing across curriculum grades 4 12 yet little known young adolescents develop challenging advanced language literacy skills needed tasks study explored productive academic language use persuasive writing sample 40 middle school students grades 68 examining use 1 argumentative moves display various levels sophistication 2 major classes connectives additive adversative causal temporal signal different cohesive functions within text essays analytical sample n 158 produced context academic vocabulary curriculum word generation transcribed coded analyzed types arguments researchers undergraduate research assistants subsequently connectives calculated tool automated analysis cohesion taaco crossley kyle mcnamara 2016 descriptive analyses reveal sixtheighth grade students sample deployed complex reasoning essays least one dual perspective argument present 50 essays least one integrative perspective argument present 42 essays multivariate regression analyses adjusted standard errors reveal adversative connectives eg although however related complex arguments integrative perspective controlling essay length topic type 2013 p 006 well overall argument sophistication 1725 p 02 results show value brief curriculumbased essays assessing students argumentation skills