earticle

영어

The present study explored the locations of main ideas, macro-level rhetorical patterns and directness/indirectness in L1 and L2 argumentative essays written by Korean ESL students in the United States. They were divided into two groups based on their writing proficiency ability. The results indicate that most participants used English rhetoric to construct their L1 and L2 essays. They also preferred the initial location when placing their main ideas regardless of the languages they used and the varying L2 writing proficiency levels. With regard to the macro-level rhetorical patterns, they often utilized the “Explanation-Collection” style, in which the writer’s opinion is followed by equally weighted supporting reason. For argument directness/indirectness, most participants preferred to write directly. The findings of the study confirm “reverse unidirectional transfer,” meaning that the rhetoric transfer actually occurred from L2 to L1.