ethanporcaro/eric-fulltext-meta huggingface dataset:
Rhetorical Impact through Hedging Devices in the &quot;Results and Discussion&quot; Part of a Civil Engineering Research Article
Author: Khamesian, Minoo
Date: 2015-12-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Research Reports,Engineering,Journal Articles,Discourse Analysis,Rhetoric,Persuasive Discourse,Scientific Research,English for Academic Purposes,English (Second Language),Second Language Learning,Academic Discourse,Writing (Composition),Language Styles,Language Usage

It is common knowledge that hedging devices as a rhetorical technique common in all persuasive writing are considerably important in scientific discourse, for they are tools which facilitate presenting claims or arguments in a polite, acceptable and respectful manner. In addition, they are discoursal resources available to a scientific writer's propositions to express uncertainty, skepticism, and open-mindedness. Research articles are an important means of communication between different members of a discourse community, and will be convincing to a certain extent only when authors are able to employ rhetorical conventions, such as hedging devices, persuasively. However, hedging is a problematic aspect in EAP learning since rarely are the learners able to hedge their statements appropriately, engineering students not being an exception. Therefore, this article tends to linguistically analyze the function of rhetorical impact of using hedging devices in the results and discussion part of a civil engineering research article published in the &quot;Asian Journal of Civil Engineering&quot; (Building &amp; Housing) to conclude that a greater and more systematic attention should be given to hedging devices considering their importance in EAP. The implication is that students, especially the Non Native English Speakers, be taught how to recognize and effectively use hedging devices in their writing as they do not seem to be familiar with hedges and therefore find it particularly difficult to hedge their statements appropriately.
Effectiveness of Oral Proficiency in English for Secondary Schools (OPS-English) Programme in Improving English Language Vocabulary among Secondary School Students
Author: Singh, Manesha Kaur Rajendra
Date: 2015-12-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,English (Second Language),Second Language Instruction,Secondary School Students,Language Proficiency,Oral Language,Speech Skills,Vocabulary Development,Program Effectiveness,Pretests Posttests,Statistical Analysis,Teaching Methods,Control Groups,Experimental Groups,Comparative Analysis

Speaking is an important skill that needs to be mastered as it is the best way to communicate with other people in order to deliver opinions and express ideas, but the fact is that secondary school students' ability in speaking English is low in Malaysia. It is caused by several factors such as lack of vocabulary, poor pronunciation, weak grammar and poor fluency that hinders the mastery of English language. In this research, Oral Proficiency in English for Secondary Schools (OPS-English) Programme was employed to improve students' speaking skill by engaging them in vocabulary based activities. The main objectives of this study are to investigate the effectiveness of OPS-English in improving the students speaking skills and increasing their vocabulary count. This is an experimental pretest-posttest control group design study which involved 70 students from a school located in one of the districts in Kedah, Malaysia. The duration of the study was 8 weeks. The data collection was done using pre-test and post-test. The data from the pre-test and posttest was analysed quantitatively using independent sample test. The findings of this study show that OPS-English can improve students' vocabulary. This is proven by experimental group's students' test score that showed improvement in the post-test. OPS-English is a suitable programme that should be used to improve students' vocabulary. The result of this study provides useful insights for English language teachers in teaching speaking.
STEM Field Persistence: The Impact of Engagement on Postsecondary STEM Persistence for Underrepresented Minority Students
Author: Flynn, Daniel T.
Date: 2016-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: College Students,STEM Education,Academic Persistence,Postsecondary Education,Disproportionate Representation,Minority Group Students,Learner Engagement,Longitudinal Studies,Regression (Statistics),Ethnicity,Majors (Students),Student Attrition,Hypothesis Testing,Least Squares Statistics,Statistical Analysis

Persistence studies in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields indicate that the pipeline to degree attainment is &quot;leaky&quot; and underrepresented minorities are not persisting in the STEM fields. Those students who do not persist in the STEM fields either migrate to other fields of study or drop out of higher education altogether. Studies of STEM student attrition point to a student perception of faculty disconnection from students, calling this the &quot;chilly climate&quot; (Seymour &amp; Hewitt, 1997). Engagement theory states, &quot;…it is the individual's integration into the academic and social systems of the college that most directly related to his continuance in that college&quot; (Tinto, 1993). A &quot;chilly climate&quot; in the STEM fields could then reflect in measures of academic and social engagement. This study uses the Beginning Postsecondary Longitudinal Student Survey, 2004-2009 (BPS:04/09) (Cominole, Wheeless, Dudley, Franklin, &amp; Wine, 2007) and logistic regression analyses to examine academic and social engagements' impact on STEM field persistence in postsecondary education, net of individual and institutional factors. Analysis by ethnicity, initial major, and engagement demonstrate that underrepresented minorities have different engagement patterns, but these engagement behaviors do not contribute significantly to staying in the STEM fields.
&quot;Reports from an Absurdist&quot;--An Analysis of Artistic Features of Ukraine Diaries
Author: Jing, Yang
Date: 2015-12-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Nonfiction,Literary Styles,Literary Devices,Distinctive Features (Language)

With 13 published novels and 5 children's literature books, which have been translated into 25 languages, Andrey Kurkov has been recognized as one of the most renowned Ukrainian writers in the world of literature, and &quot;Ukraine Diaries&quot; is his first non-fiction literary work. This paper attempts to focus on Kurkov's unique literary characteristics in the unusual combination of deceptive simplicity of style and the profound insights, coupled with acrid ridicule and subtle narration, which can all be attributed to the characteristics of &quot;the Absurdist School&quot;. The writer regards his living condition, as the report from Kiev shows, as kind of dilemma, or paradox: on the one hand, he feels frustrated with Russia intellectually despite the affinity to traditional culture in emotion; on the other hand, he feels more indignant about the European Union who brought painful experiences to his country and his people, in spite of his closeness to western culture and political system.
Outcomes-Based Education Integration in Home Economics Program: An Evaluative Study
Author: Limon, Mark Raguindin
Date: 2016-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Outcome Based Education,Teaching Methods,Home Economics Education,College Students,Surveys,Questionnaires,Interviews,Observation,Documentation,College Faculty,Instructional Materials,Instructional Effectiveness,Educational Facilities,Curriculum

This study examined the factors that affect the integration of Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) in the Home Economics (HE) education curriculum of the Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) program of a State University in the northern part of the Philippines. Descriptive survey and qualitative design were deployed to gather, analyze, and interpret data, which were deemed significant to the study. These research methods involved questionnaires, interviews, observations, and document investigations. The unit of analysis, which was purposively selected, was the students and faculty of the HE department under the TLE program. Results disclosed that there is little understanding of the new paradigm shift--OBE; there are limited instructional resources for the faculty; laboratory equipment were inadequate; and physical facilities available do not maximize the competencies required by OBE. Therefore, the researchers proposed the formulation of a new set of educational objectives, and the design of an action plan for the succeeding five years, in order to solicit necessary budget allocation from the government funding agency. This effort will address the identified gaps in the delivery of the OBE curriculum, specifically in upgrading physical resources and instructional materials. In addition, personnel involved in curriculum implementation should undergo seminars and trainings so that they could translate theories and concepts into practical skills and lifelong learning, which are needed for global marketability in the 21st century.
Lexion: That Which Upholds or Bears an Archetype. &quot;Introducing Lex and Lexion to Modern English&quot;
Author: Russ, Helen
Date: 2015-12-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: English,Latin,Greek,Vocabulary,Definitions

Derived from the Etruscan and Greek alphabets, Latin is a classical language that has influenced modern languages such as English, French, Italian and Spanish. With its Latin and Greek roots, this paper argues that the word lexion is an appropriate and necessary addition to the English language. Lex in Latin means, law, syllabus, statute and dharma. Lex in Ancient Greek means &quot;the Word&quot; or logos. Drawing from Plato, this paper argues that &quot;lexion&quot; is the lore, law and dharma that upholds or bears an idea or perfect Form. A &quot;lexion&quot; emerges at the confluence of forces aligned with the archetype, thus forming the metaphysical body or spirit of an organisation. It is argued that a new term is necessary to name this phenomenon as current terms, while appropriate in some contexts, are often inadequate, limited and at times misleading. This paper outlines the benefits in introducing a new term.
Mapping Miles and Huberman's Within-Case and Cross-Case Analysis Methods onto the Literature Review Process
Author: Onwuegbuzie, Anthony J.
Date: 2016-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Literature Reviews,Visual Aids,Qualitative Research,Data Analysis,Computer Software

Recently, several authors have attempted to make the literature review process more transparent by providing a step-by-step guide to conducting literature reviews. However, although these works are very informative, none of them delineate how to display information extracted from literature reviews in a reader-friendly and visually appealing manner. Thus, the purpose of this article was to provide a framework for visually displaying information extracted for literature reviews via Miles and Huberman's (1994) within- and cross-case displays. As part of our demonstration of the utility of visual displays, we use an actual body of published works that were subjected to some of these displays. Finally, we illustrate how to use a qualitative data analysis software program to facilitate these visual displays.
My Daughter the Scientist? Mothers' Perceptions of the Shift in Their Daughter's Personal Science Identities
Author: Farland-Smith, Donna
Date: 2016-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Females,Mothers,Daughters,Science Instruction,Middle School Students,College Faculty,Scientists,Science Interests,Interviews,Parent Attitudes,Sciences,Career Development,Experiential Learning,Identification (Psychology),Summer Programs,Case Studies,Journal Writing

This study reports on the perspective of mothers whose daughters underwent an extensive inquiry-focused interactive one-week science camp, which involved female middle school students and university scientists. This study focused on nine mother's perceptions of the impact the camp had on their daughter's science identities. Following the camp, parents were interviewed and reported that, among other things, their daughters had shifted to a much keener appreciation for science as a discipline, had a greater awareness of who scientists are, where their work, and what they do, as well as a broadened and more focused interest in science careers. Key to this paper is the profound ripple effect that these experiences with scientists had on the girls' science identities once returning to a school setting. Based on data collected, these experiences with scientists prompted students to participate more in school science and express more interest in science for as much as a year following the camp. The reflections shared by parents following their daughters' camp participation provide important insight for parents, teachers and informal educators in terms of how girls internalize these experiences in a way that effects their own perceptions of scientists and becomes incorporated into their individual science identities.
Analytical Study of the Status of Myth in the Creation of Literary and Artistic Works
Author: Moghaddam, Sedigheh Sherkat
Date: 2016-02-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Mythology,Literature,Imagination,Educational Theories,Educational Philosophy,Educational Practices

The prevalent question raised in literary theories has been the quiddity of literature. However, the question of &quot;what is literature?&quot; is a philosophical issue. On the other hand, the relationship between myth and literature has always been raised by most scholars and many have considered literature a subtype of myths. In this paper, while pointing transiently to the concepts and definitions of myth from the perspective of the great thinkers, with a different view, the role of myth in creation of artistic works is discussed. In this review, the critic attempts to interpret the literary work--or some sources in the text--to its prototype or archetype with its deep structure. With the help of this method, tracing the old or new mythology, distorted or worn, it is understood how they have passed over the whole cultural field and have found their specific formation.
On the Comparative Impact of Self-Assessment and Teacher-Assessment on Iranian EFL Learners' Academic Motivation
Author: Salimi, Asghar
Date: 2015-12-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Second Language Learning,Second Language Instruction,English (Second Language),Advanced Students,Self Evaluation (Individuals),Student Evaluation,Learning Motivation,Questionnaires,Likert Scales,Language Tests,Pretests Posttests,Comparative Analysis,Teaching Methods,Experimental Groups,Control Groups,Statistical Analysis

Nowadays, the function of language teaching and testing has been paid much attention by researchers. There is an overall notion in the literature that motivation, as driving force, is one of the likely learners' traits. The aim of this study was to examine the comparative impact of self-assessment and teacher-assessment on learners' academic motivation. The participants were 60 intermediate students in two groups at Novin-Rezvan Foreign institute. At the beginning of semester, the instructor gave a motivation questionnaire as pre-test to the students, and then both groups were put to the similar content and instructional method for reading strategies. There was only one difference, i.e., the students in the experimental group self-assessed themselves, whereas the students in another group were assessed by the teacher-assessment. At the end of treatment session, a post-motivation questionnaire was given to the students to assess level of their motivation. Two t-tests were run, and the results showed that self-assessment play an important impact on Iranian EFL learners' academic motivation.
Language Testing: An Overview and Language Testing in Educational Institutions of Bangladesh
Author: Hossain, Md. Mahroof
Date: 2015-12-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Language Tests,Testing,Second Language Learning,Foreign Countries,College Students,Instructional Effectiveness,Teaching Methods,English (Second Language),Second Language Instruction,Achievement Tests,Test Reliability,Test Validity,Test Format,Student Attitudes,Questionnaires

Test is procedures for measuring ability, knowledge or performance. Testing can be defined as a method of assessment and improvement of the students. Language testing in any point is an extremely multifarious task that ought to be based on method as well as exercise. The results of assessments are used for one or more purposes. So they have an effect on those who are assessed and on those who use results. The knowledge of the fundamental doctrine of testing is important for the instructor, as instructors have to make test for the institution as well as for the candidates of the external examination. Many instructors to do have the right knowledge about testing so that the language test may have harmful effect on education any they fail to measure what they want to measure. This study aimed mainly of clarifications of notions of testing system, its impacts on education process and the different steps for a qualified test development. This article also presents the characteristics of good test as well as it presents a study which is based on the university students about the test technique that is commonly used in educational institution of Bangladesh. This article will be helpful for the instructors to develop their testing system and make their teaching an effective one for the students.
An Investigation into Undergraduates' Errors in the Use of the Indefinite Article at Omar Al-Mukhtar University
Author: Gaibani, Ahmed
Date: 2015-12-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Undergraduate Students,English (Second Language),Error Patterns,Error Analysis (Language),Writing (Composition),Qualitative Research,Morphemes,Grammar,Language Acquisition,Essay Tests,Essays,Foreign Countries

The purpose of this study was to examine the use of English articles as well the errors made by the students at Omar Al-Mukhtar University. The research objectives consists of: To identify the types and sources of errors made by Libyan EFL Undergraduates at Omar Al-Mukhtar University in the use of the indefinite article during their written composition, To determine the major types of errors in which larger numbers of errors have been committed by the students in their written composition. Based on previous studies, a qualitative method of data collection represented by an essay-writing composition is implemented in this study. Moreover, they were asked to write essay writing composition of the following topics &quot;Discuss The Problems You Face In Learning English Language?&quot; The results provide of this study, reporting the information collected from Compositions and analyzed by using descriptive statistical percentages in terms of errors numbers and percentages of errors occurrences under their major types, which enabled the researchers to put these in an order of their occurrences. In other words, data were organized using categories given to each of these errors. Regarding the length of compositions, a total of (2194) English words were written by the students across their university levels. Freshmen wrote a total of (1193) words which represents (54.37%) whereas sophomores wrote (1001) words which represents (40.62%). These research also suggest that there is a significant and negative impact of the use of English Articles. Since majority of students agreed that the English Articles are important, and we should look at the importance of English language as well as how students improve their proficiency in English articles towards mastering the use of English language.
A Pragmatic Study of Humor
Author: Ibraheem, Sura Dhiaa
Date: 2016-02-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Pragmatics,Humor,Language Usage,Qualitative Research,Figurative Language,Linguistic Theory,Drama,Discourse Analysis,Literary Devices,English Literature

Linguistically speaking, the concept of humor, which seems to be vast for people, has specific dimensions by which it is generated including: puns, irony, sarcasm, wittiness, and contrastive utterances in relation to the speakers of those utterances. It is about how the extra linguistics elements dominate the situation and the delivery of humor. The researchers of the present paper intend to show how the selected literary extract can be subjected to a linguistic pragmatic analysis and then be explained by applying the incongruity theory of humor by Kant (1790) in order to show the ways or the mechanisms that lead to the flouting, infringing and the violation of Gricean maxims can consequently lead to the creation of humor. Despite the fact that the present paper is qualitative in nature, some tables are provided by the researchers in order to reach into a better, deeper and more understandable analysis. Investigating the ways Gricean maxims are flouted, infringed and violated to create humor, and showing how the imperfect use of language sometimes create unintentional humor are the researchers' aims of this paper.
Mandarin, Suzhou Dialect and English: Multilingualism in Suzhou
Author: Xu, Sibing
Date: 2015-12-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Mandarin Chinese,Dialects,English (Second Language),Second Language Learning,Official Languages,Language Planning,Language Usage,Language Attitudes,Multilingualism,Foreign Countries,Geographic Regions

This paper explains the situation of Mandarin, Suzhou dialect and English in Suzhou, the relation between language policy and language use, discusses the positive and negative consequences that multilingualism in Suzhou might have for the society, and focuses on the change of language use in Suzhou and provides suggestions for the maintenance of Suzhou dialect. The multilingualism in Suzhou is a new phenomenon of the 21st century, and has led to different personal attitudes towards language use and language choice. The right balance among the three, Suzhou dialect as the local language, Mandarin as the national language and English as the global language, is worth researching for long-term harmonious development.
Influence of Speech Anxiety on Oral Communication Skills among ESL/EFL Learners
Author: Khan, Said Muhammad
Date: 2015-12-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Communication Skills,Anxiety,English (Second Language),Second Language Learning,Foreign Countries,College Students,Communication (Thought Transfer),Second Language Instruction,Likert Scales,Measures (Individuals),Interviews,Qualitative Research,Statistical Analysis,Social Influences,Educational Background,Socioeconomic Status,Communicative Competence (Languages),Speech Communication

The realization of speech anxiety among ESL/EFL learners is important. Once understood, these feelings of fear or nervousness may be relieved and the desired objectives of learning the target language may be achieved. The study has attempted to measure the level of anxiety among ESL/EFL learners at HITEC University, Taxila, Pakistan. The current research has arrived at the conclusion that the target population is highly anxious in situation where they are required to speak English. The findings show that sources such as pedagogical, psychological, socio-economic, linguistic and cultural generate anxiety among the EFL learners. The study has suggested variety of strategies to treat anxiety in the academic context. It was found that communicative approach in classroom may be helpful in minimizing the negative impact of anxiety among language learners.