CAF across proficiency levels and profiles: an investigation of ESL student writings in an English placement test
Avci, Arzu
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/108618
Description
Title
CAF across proficiency levels and profiles: an investigation of ESL student writings in an English placement test
Author(s)
Avci, Arzu
Issue Date
2020-07-16
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Yan, Xun
Department of Study
Linguistics
Discipline
Teaching of English Sec Lang
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
M.A.
Degree Level
Thesis
Keyword(s)
complexity
accuracy
fluency
second language writing
language testing
Abstract
This study was an examination of the predictive value of complexity, accuracy and fluency (CAF) across proficiency levels and profiles in second language writing. 150 ESL essays of international students registered at a North American university were analyzed using various CAF measures. Descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA results indicate that fluency is the strongest indicator of proficiency. Accuracy is also found to distinguish across proficiency levels. Length-based complexity measures are found to better predict proficiency while subordination is found to be a comparatively weak indicator. For lexical complexity, number of different words could better distinguish writers across proficiency levels. When results are analyzed for language profiles, it is found that syntactic complexity and accuracy better distinguish across profiles.
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