An analytical study on theme choices in the academic essays of Libyan EFL undergraduate students

Abstract

Theme is the element which a speaker or writer chooses as a point of departure for a clause. Theme is of different types; each of which has a certain function in the overall discourse. Choosing the appropriate theme is important to deliver the intended message of the discourse. Many EFL students encounter problems in their theme choice which might decrease the quality of their written products. The current study investigated the frequency of the different types of themes to find out the most dominantly used theme types. For data collection, 15 academic essays written by advanced semesters' students were utilized to fulfill the purpose of the study. In analyzing the written texts, the Halladian Analysis System was followed to categorize the type of themes used in the students' writings. According to the study findings, the Topical Unmarked theme was highly dominant in the students' writing. The Textual themes occupied the second place in the frequency of use. Not surprisingly, the Interpersonal theme was very rare in the students' essays. The results of the study were interpreted and contextualized within the existing body of literature. Finally, the implications and limitations of the study were discussed.