Theme-Rheme Pattern: Its Contribution to Cohesion and Coherence in The Students’ Research Background

Cohesion and coherence are pivotal aspects of academic writing. Although the analysis of these elements in academic texts has garnered considerable attention from researchers worldwide, there remains a notable paucity of studies focused on the research backgrounds of student texts, particularly with...

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Main Authors: Suharsono Suharsono, Ashadi Ashadi, Zefki Okta Feri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universitas Lancang Kuning 2024-04-01
Series:REiLA
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Online Access:https://journal.unilak.ac.id/index.php/REILA/article/view/16281
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author Suharsono Suharsono
Ashadi Ashadi
Zefki Okta Feri
author_facet Suharsono Suharsono
Ashadi Ashadi
Zefki Okta Feri
author_sort Suharsono Suharsono
collection DOAJ
description Cohesion and coherence are pivotal aspects of academic writing. Although the analysis of these elements in academic texts has garnered considerable attention from researchers worldwide, there remains a notable paucity of studies focused on the research backgrounds of student texts, particularly with respect to their educational level. This study sought to explore how the effective utilization of Theme-Rheme structures can enhance the overall clarity and organization of students’ research backgrounds. Employing a qualitative content analysis approach inspired by Krippendorff (2004), this study meticulously scrutinizes fifty samples of academic papers to discern the prevalence and variations of Theme-Rheme patterns and their impact on the logical flow of information. The thematic structure formulated by Halliday & Matthiessen (2004/2014) and the thematic progression framework by Bloor & Bloor (2004) were instrumental in analyzing the data. The findings reveal that students utilize a variety of theme types in their research backgrounds. The unmarked theme is the most prevalent, accounting for 55% in undergraduate theses (UT), 54% in master's theses (MT), and 59% in doctoral dissertations (DD). Following this, the textual theme is utilized at rates of 30% in UT, 34% in MT, and 31% in DD. The marked theme appears less frequently, comprising about 13% in UT, 11% in MT, and 8% in DD, while the interpersonal theme is rarely employed, with an approximate usage of 2% across all educational levels. This study sheds light on the significance of Theme-Rheme structures in academic writing and offers valuable insights for educators and students alike, who are striving to enhance the quality of their academic papers.
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spelling doaj-art-bc292d1afdd74bafa8a2af43e356a8072025-08-20T02:13:10ZengUniversitas Lancang KuningREiLA2685-08182685-39062024-04-01619411010.31849/reila.v6i1.1628116281Theme-Rheme Pattern: Its Contribution to Cohesion and Coherence in The Students’ Research BackgroundSuharsono Suharsono0Ashadi Ashadi1Zefki Okta Feri2 Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Sleman, IndonesiaUniversitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, IndonesiaUniversitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, IndonesiaCohesion and coherence are pivotal aspects of academic writing. Although the analysis of these elements in academic texts has garnered considerable attention from researchers worldwide, there remains a notable paucity of studies focused on the research backgrounds of student texts, particularly with respect to their educational level. This study sought to explore how the effective utilization of Theme-Rheme structures can enhance the overall clarity and organization of students’ research backgrounds. Employing a qualitative content analysis approach inspired by Krippendorff (2004), this study meticulously scrutinizes fifty samples of academic papers to discern the prevalence and variations of Theme-Rheme patterns and their impact on the logical flow of information. The thematic structure formulated by Halliday & Matthiessen (2004/2014) and the thematic progression framework by Bloor & Bloor (2004) were instrumental in analyzing the data. The findings reveal that students utilize a variety of theme types in their research backgrounds. The unmarked theme is the most prevalent, accounting for 55% in undergraduate theses (UT), 54% in master's theses (MT), and 59% in doctoral dissertations (DD). Following this, the textual theme is utilized at rates of 30% in UT, 34% in MT, and 31% in DD. The marked theme appears less frequently, comprising about 13% in UT, 11% in MT, and 8% in DD, while the interpersonal theme is rarely employed, with an approximate usage of 2% across all educational levels. This study sheds light on the significance of Theme-Rheme structures in academic writing and offers valuable insights for educators and students alike, who are striving to enhance the quality of their academic papers.https://journal.unilak.ac.id/index.php/REILA/article/view/16281sflthematic choicethematic progressioncohesioncoherenceresearch background
spellingShingle Suharsono Suharsono
Ashadi Ashadi
Zefki Okta Feri
Theme-Rheme Pattern: Its Contribution to Cohesion and Coherence in The Students’ Research Background
REiLA
sfl
thematic choice
thematic progression
cohesion
coherence
research background
title Theme-Rheme Pattern: Its Contribution to Cohesion and Coherence in The Students’ Research Background
title_full Theme-Rheme Pattern: Its Contribution to Cohesion and Coherence in The Students’ Research Background
title_fullStr Theme-Rheme Pattern: Its Contribution to Cohesion and Coherence in The Students’ Research Background
title_full_unstemmed Theme-Rheme Pattern: Its Contribution to Cohesion and Coherence in The Students’ Research Background
title_short Theme-Rheme Pattern: Its Contribution to Cohesion and Coherence in The Students’ Research Background
title_sort theme rheme pattern its contribution to cohesion and coherence in the students research background
topic sfl
thematic choice
thematic progression
cohesion
coherence
research background
url https://journal.unilak.ac.id/index.php/REILA/article/view/16281
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