元话语与大学英语中的写作教学

元话语 (metadiscourse)是指语篇中能标示话语结构、提请对方注意或表明发话者态度的各种语言手段。本文首先对元话语的概念、功能、分类进行了解释 ,然后探讨了元话语的使用情况与写作的关系 ,认为关键是看元话语在语篇中的使用是否“适当”和“有效” ,在写作方面起重要作用的是元话语的质量而不是数量 ,最后介绍了部分以提高写作质量为目的而进行的关于元话语的教学尝试

Metadiscourse and Teaching of Writing in College English

Metadiscourse refers to aspects of a text, which explicitly organize the discourse, engage the audience and signal the writer's attitude. This paper, first of all, explains the concept, function and categories of metadiscourse, and then discusses the relationship between the use of metadiscourse and the quality of writing. It agrees that now the key word is the "appropriate" or "effective" use of metadiscourse. It is the quality, not the quantity, of the metadiscourse used that helps create a successful piece of writing. Finally, it introduces some experimental attempts on the teaching of metadiscourse in classroom with expectations of improving the quality of writing.