ERIC Number: EJ998289
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-May
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1525-7401
EISSN: N/A
Narrative and Expository Writing of Adolescents with Language-Learning Disabilities: A Pilot Study
Hall-Mills, Shannon; Apel, Kenn
Communication Disorders Quarterly, v34 n3 p135-143 May 2013
We evaluated the narrative and expository writing samples of 12 adolescents with language-learning disabilities (LLD) in Grades 6 to 12 for elements of microstructure (e.g., productivity, grammatical complexity) and macrostructure (genre-specific text structure elements) using an experimental measure. Writing samples were elicited with genre-specific prompts via paper and pencil and transcribed according to "Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts" (SALT) conventions. Wilcoxon signed ranks tests indicate that levels of productivity and grammatical complexity were significantly greater in the narrative genre than in the expository genre. However, participants' writing samples demonstrated equally impoverished text structure for both genres. Positive correlations were found between microstructure and macrostructure performance. Findings confirm the effects of discourse genre on measures of microstructure and further elucidate the use of microstructure and macrostructure elements in the writing of adolescents with LLD. Future research, comprehensive writing assessment, and interventionists should consider direct measurement of both microstructure and macrostructure components across genres for this population. (Contains 4 tables.)
Descriptors: Learning Disabilities, Writing Tests, Adolescents, Writing Evaluation, Grammar, Expository Writing, Text Structure, Pilot Projects, Productivity, Literary Genres, Narration, Correlation, Discourse Modes, Literary Devices, Student Writing Models, Language Acquisition, Difficulty Level, Performance Factors
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 10; Grade 11; Grade 12; Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 9; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A