Use of Grammatical Cohesion in Argumentative Essays

Abstract

Grammatical cohesion is the basic means of establishing connection between texts, words, word groups, phrases and sentences as well as ideas. Linguistically, grammatical cohesion can be possible through reference, conjunctions, substitution and ellipsis. Taking into consideration their function of textual arrangement and of providing continuity, grammatical cohesion elements are expected to take place in argumentative texts aiming to convince readers/listeners. Stemming from this assumption, this study aims to find out which one of the grammatical cohesion devices are used most in argumentative texts written by university students and to evaluate the frequency of the usage of these elements in due consideration of the characteristics of the argumentative text. Argumentative essays written in Turkish in 2016-2017 spring semester by the freshman students of English Language and Literature Department of Kocaeli University form the database of this study. The essays examined are made up of 5 sections; introduction wherein the argument is set forth; 3 development paragraphs wherein the students are expected to refute counterthesis and provide supports of their thesis under three controlling ideas, and a conclusion summarizing their thesis. Led by the studies of Alarcon and Morales, and by making use of the Grammatical Cohesion Model of Halliday and Hasan, the grammatical cohesion devices are analysed and answers for the research questions are sought for. In conclusion, it is observed that the reference and conjunctions are the most frequently used elements while the substitution elements are used with the lowest frequency. It is also concluded that the findings of this study is conformant to the essence of Alarcon and Morales' studies and to the principal characteristics of argumentative texts