摘要近年来，二语写作研究在国内外引起了越来越多研究者的关注和兴趣。本研究调查了英语专业二至四年级学生议论文写作句法复杂性和词汇复杂性的发展趋势。研究文本来自“外研社杯” 全国英语写作大赛南京理工大学校园选拔赛。本研究从总体复杂性, 从属复杂性和子句复杂性三方面来分析句法复杂性；从词汇变化D值和学术词比例来测量词汇复杂性。87744

研究结果显示，三个年级在句法复杂性上呈逐渐上升的趋势。二年级在三个句法复杂性标准上与三、四年级均有统计显著性差异；三个年级与英语专业8级考试高分作文之间在总体复杂性和从属复杂性上均有统计显著性差异。在词汇复杂性两个标准上，三个年级之间没有统计显著性差异，仅呈现出微弱上升的趋势；三个年级与专八高分作文相比也无统计显著性差异。本研究结果表明，相对于句法复杂性，英语专业学生词汇能力发展较为缓慢。因此，英语专业的教学应更注重学生词汇能力的培养，尤其是学术词的使用能力。

毕业论文关键词  议论文写作  句法复杂性  词汇复杂性  发展趋势

毕 业 论 文 外 文 摘 要

Title    A Study on the Development of Syntactic and Lexical Complexity of Argumentative Compositions by Chinese English Majors     

Abstract In recent years, second language writing has attracted increasing attention and interest from both domestic and overseas researchers。 The study was intended to investigate the development of syntactic complexity and lexical complexity of argumentative compositions by year 2-4 Chinese English majors。 The written texts analyzed were from two qualification contests of “FLTRP Cup” English writing contest in Nanjing University of Science and Technology。 Three indices of syntactic complexity (overall complexity, subordination complexity and phrasal complexity) and two indices of lexical complexity (MSR-D and academic word ratio) were employed in this study。 源-于,优Z尔%论^文.网wwW.yOueRw.com 原文+QQ752018~766 Results showed that in terms of syntactic complexity, the three groups of students demonstrated an upward development trend。 Statistically significant differences were found between second year students and the other two groups in all the three syntactic complexity measures。 The results also revealed statistically significant differences between the three groups and the high-scoring group (compositions from TEM-8 writing tests) in both overall and subordination complexity。 In terms of lexical complexity, there were no statistically significant differences among the three groups, and between each of the three groups and the high-scoring group。 However, there were slight improvements year by year。 The results indicated that, compared with syntactic complexity, lexical complexity of compositions by the English majors developed rather slowly。 Therefore, teaching for English majors should pay more attention to the cultivation of students’ lexical ability, especially their use of academic words。 

Keywords  argumentative writing  syntactic complexity  lexical complexity  development

Table of Contents

1 Introduction 1

1。1 Research Background 1

1。2 Significance of the Study 2

1。3 Structure of the Thesis 3

2 Literature Review 5

2。1 Syntactic Complexity