Abstract:
Discourse marker affects the logical meaning that is conveyed by an author to the readers. This article
reports the analysis of discourse markers inside the background of master thesis proposals. The data
presented were gained from eight students who had finished their comprehensive paper seminar in a
postgraduate program. Eight backgrounds of master thesis proposals had been analyzed qualitatively.
The results of this research revealed that there was a mix-used of the discourse markers. Each draft
showed both appropriate and inappropriate use of three discourse maker classes. The appropriate
discourse markers had no digression of the stipulated form and were found free from misuse patterns.
On the contrary, the discourse markers were found as inappropriate use. The most dominant problem
experienced by the students was the high density of discourse markers in a short text or connective
overuse misuse pattern. The three classes of discourse markers had some common variants. There were
two common contrastive discourse marker variants, i.e. however and but. Moreover, and, furthermore,
and in addition are four common elaborative discourse marker variants. The six common inferential
discourse marker variants are therefore, because (of this/that), thus, then, so, and in this/that/any case.
The article concludes by highlighting the importance of the students to be developed more their
linguistic strategy. |
