Error Analysis of Cohesive Devices in Non-English Major College Students’ English Writing

Abstract

The theory of cohesion plays a vital role in writing to realize coherent discourse and natural logic. Whether the writings can be appropriately used the cohesion devices is the key to improve the writing ability, especially in learning foreign languages. Whether the writings can be appropriately used the cohesion devices is the key to improve the writing ability, especially in learning foreign language. Based on the framework of Halliday and Hasan’s cohesion theory, this thesis aims at analyzing the use of cohesion in writing. Based on the framework of Halliday and Hasan’s cohesion theory, this thesis aims at analyzing the use of cohesion in English compositions of non-English major college students. subjects, the author chosen those non-English majors who have passed College English Text Band 4 in their freshman and sophomore years at Shandong University of Finance and Economics. Based on the methodology of combining qualitative and quantitative methods and bias analysis, the analysis mainly includes the frequency of cohesion use. Based on the methodology of combining qualitative and quantitative methods and bias analysis, the analysis mainly includes the frequency of cohesion use and cohesion errors, the degree of influence of negative mother tongue transfer.