Distribution and Appropriateness of Use of Logical Connectors in the Academic Writing of Jordanian English-Major Undergraduates

Abstract

Logical connectors (LCs), words and phrases (e.g., moreover, therefore, however, consequently) that link clauses or sentences together to achieve text cohesion, are problematic for EFL writers to use appropriately. This study investigated the way LCs are used in the academic expository writing of Jordanian English-major undergraduates through quantitative and qualitative analyses of a sample of 146 essays. The results revealed that students used LCs redundantly, rarely varied the ones they used, and misused them both semantically and syntactically. The study included some examples from students’ writings and presented some considerations for eliminating students’ problems in using LCs.