Discourse Analysis: Assignment 2 ( Sample Solution)

Assignment: Analyzing Cohesion and Thematic Progression in a Text

Objective: To analyze the cohesion and thematic progression in a written text and evaluate how these aspects contribute to the overall meaning and coherence of the text. 

Sample solution:

Introduction: This report aims to analyze the cohesion and thematic progression in an academic paper titled "The impact of social media on interpersonal communication." The paper aims to explore the effects of social media on face-to-face communication and provide recommendations for individuals and society to maintain healthy communication habits.

Cohesion: The paper's author uses various cohesive devices to create a clear structure and connect different parts of the text. Firstly, the use of conjunctions such as "and," "but," and "however" help to link ideas and establish relationships between different parts of the text. For instance, in the second paragraph, the author uses "but" to contrast the advantages and disadvantages of social media use, stating that "while social media can enhance communication and provide opportunities for social interaction, it can also hinder face-to-face communication and cause addiction."

Secondly, the author employs lexical repetition to emphasize key ideas and create a sense of coherence. For example, the phrase "face-to-face communication" is repeated throughout the paper to emphasize the main theme and highlight the impact of social media on this type of communication.

Thematic progression: The theme of each sentence in the text is analyzed using the following format: theme-rheme. The theme is part of the sentence that presents new information, while the rheme is the part that provides additional information or elaborates on the theme.

The paper employs a linear thematic progression, where each sentence builds upon the previous one to develop the paper's main theme. The first paragraph introduces the topic and establishes the purpose of the paper, while the second paragraph presents the advantages and disadvantages of social media use. The subsequent paragraphs discuss the impact of social media on face-to-face communication, and the conclusion provides recommendations for individuals and society to maintain healthy communication habits.

Thematic progression contributes to the coherence and meaning of the text by providing a clear structure and logical flow of ideas. The linear progression helps to develop the paper's main theme and maintain a clear focus throughout the text.

Recommendations: To improve the cohesion and thematic progression of the paper, the author could consider using additional cohesive devices such as referencing and substitution. Referencing involves using pronouns or other devices to refer to previously mentioned ideas while substituting a noun with a pronoun or another noun with a similar meaning. These devices help avoid repetition and create a smoother flow of ideas.

In terms of thematic progression, the author could consider using a bifurcated progression, where the paper is divided into two main sections that explore different aspects of the topic. This approach provides a more comprehensive analysis of the impact of social media on communication and makes it easier for readers to follow the argument.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the analysis of the cohesion and thematic progression in the academic paper "The impact of social media on interpersonal communication" demonstrates how these aspects contribute to the overall meaning and coherence of the text. The paper uses various cohesive devices and employs a linear thematic progression to develop the main theme and provide a clear structure. The author could consider using additional cohesive devices and exploring different thematic progression approaches to improve the cohesion and thematic progression.