Text Cohesion vs. Fine-Grained Indices of Syntactic Complexity in L2 Writing: Their Relations to Overall EFL Writing Scores

The purpose of this study is to determine how various cohesion indices (CI), as determined by the Tool for the Automatic Analysis of Cohesion (TAACO), and syntactic complexity indices, as determined by the Tool for the Automatic Analysis of Syntactic Sophistication and Complexity (TAASSC), relate to...

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Main Author: Zafer Susoy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi 2025-08-01
Series:Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi
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Online Access:https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/4431267
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author Zafer Susoy
author_facet Zafer Susoy
author_sort Zafer Susoy
collection DOAJ
description The purpose of this study is to determine how various cohesion indices (CI), as determined by the Tool for the Automatic Analysis of Cohesion (TAACO), and syntactic complexity indices, as determined by the Tool for the Automatic Analysis of Syntactic Sophistication and Complexity (TAASSC), relate to the writing quality evaluations of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. This study employs a quantitative research methodology, using regression and correlation analysis to examine the collected learner corpus. Although there was no noticeable relationship between coherence devices and writing quality, syntactic complexity is a key differentiator between proficient and less proficient EFL writers. Metrics such as clause length, and use of complex nominals per clause contribute to a sophisticated writing style, signaling advanced linguistic capability. Furthermore, 50% of the variance in the overall writing quality scores of the learners was explained by the regression model only when text length (TL) and proficiency level were added as confounding variables. The study's findings are discussed in light of the related literature and future directions.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1305-2020
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi
record_format Article
series Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi
spelling doaj-art-11d1ebcd317e40e8a527b56b8c53e7362025-08-20T04:02:27ZengVan Yüzüncü Yıl ÜniversitesiVan Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi1305-20202025-08-012224774931655Text Cohesion vs. Fine-Grained Indices of Syntactic Complexity in L2 Writing: Their Relations to Overall EFL Writing ScoresZafer Susoy0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6890-6007TOKAT GAZİOSMANPAŞA ÜNİVERSİTESİThe purpose of this study is to determine how various cohesion indices (CI), as determined by the Tool for the Automatic Analysis of Cohesion (TAACO), and syntactic complexity indices, as determined by the Tool for the Automatic Analysis of Syntactic Sophistication and Complexity (TAASSC), relate to the writing quality evaluations of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. This study employs a quantitative research methodology, using regression and correlation analysis to examine the collected learner corpus. Although there was no noticeable relationship between coherence devices and writing quality, syntactic complexity is a key differentiator between proficient and less proficient EFL writers. Metrics such as clause length, and use of complex nominals per clause contribute to a sophisticated writing style, signaling advanced linguistic capability. Furthermore, 50% of the variance in the overall writing quality scores of the learners was explained by the regression model only when text length (TL) and proficiency level were added as confounding variables. The study's findings are discussed in light of the related literature and future directions.https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/4431267automated writing assessmentcohesionsecond language writingsyntactic complexitytext lengthwriting proficiency.bağlaşıklıkikinci dil yazımımetin uzunluğuotomatik yazma değerlendirmesisözdizimsel karmaşıklıkyazma yeterliliği
spellingShingle Zafer Susoy
Text Cohesion vs. Fine-Grained Indices of Syntactic Complexity in L2 Writing: Their Relations to Overall EFL Writing Scores
Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi
automated writing assessment
cohesion
second language writing
syntactic complexity
text length
writing proficiency.
bağlaşıklık
ikinci dil yazımı
metin uzunluğu
otomatik yazma değerlendirmesi
sözdizimsel karmaşıklık
yazma yeterliliği
title Text Cohesion vs. Fine-Grained Indices of Syntactic Complexity in L2 Writing: Their Relations to Overall EFL Writing Scores
title_full Text Cohesion vs. Fine-Grained Indices of Syntactic Complexity in L2 Writing: Their Relations to Overall EFL Writing Scores
title_fullStr Text Cohesion vs. Fine-Grained Indices of Syntactic Complexity in L2 Writing: Their Relations to Overall EFL Writing Scores
title_full_unstemmed Text Cohesion vs. Fine-Grained Indices of Syntactic Complexity in L2 Writing: Their Relations to Overall EFL Writing Scores
title_short Text Cohesion vs. Fine-Grained Indices of Syntactic Complexity in L2 Writing: Their Relations to Overall EFL Writing Scores
title_sort text cohesion vs fine grained indices of syntactic complexity in l2 writing their relations to overall efl writing scores
topic automated writing assessment
cohesion
second language writing
syntactic complexity
text length
writing proficiency.
bağlaşıklık
ikinci dil yazımı
metin uzunluğu
otomatik yazma değerlendirmesi
sözdizimsel karmaşıklık
yazma yeterliliği
url https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/4431267
work_keys_str_mv AT zafersusoy textcohesionvsfinegrainedindicesofsyntacticcomplexityinl2writingtheirrelationstooveralleflwritingscores