Tesis profesional presentada por Bárbara Pamela Olmos López

Maestría en Lingüística Aplicada. Departamento de Lenguas. Escuela de Ciencias Sociales, Artes y Humanidades, Universidad de las Américas Puebla.

Jurado Calificador

Presidente: Dra. Connie Rae Johnson McDaniel
Secretario y Director: Dra. Brita Banitz
Vocal: Dra. Magdalena Mejía Gómez

Cholula, Puebla, México a 13 de mayo de 2008.

Abstract

The conclusions section of a thesis is the last chapter people read and usually the section that leaves the lasting impression. This thesis presents a framework for the analysis of thesis conclusions at an undergraduate level in the field of humanities, which as literature reveals, lacks an agenda for its analysis at the undergraduate level. A seven-move generic organization is proposed as a Framework for Undergraduate Thesis Conclusions (FUTC). This framework sheds a light on the complex construction of the thesis conclusions chapter towards its analysis. Moreover, the FUTC shows potentiality for further research, pedagogic implications and applications for genre and writing studies. Studies on genre, discourse and writing have mingled into one area regarding the study of writer’s identity by means of voice. By developing studies on voice, the way the writer socializes with the community can be analyzed. This thesis also aims to analyze the writer’s voice expression in four undergraduate case studies in a public university in central Mexico. The analysis includes the writer’s voice as self as author and discoursal voice. From these analyses, this thesis concludes that there is such a phenomenon like voice that just cannot be separated from writing, which although follows discoursive and genre conventions, it is socially constructed and unique of every person.

Table of content

Acknowledgements y Dedications

Glossary

Chapter 1. Introduction

  • 1.1 Introduction to the Problem
  • 1.2 Purpose of the Study
  • 1.3 Research Questions
  • 1.4 Assumptions
  • 1.5 Significance of the Study
  • 1.6 Organization of the Thesis

Chapter 2. Literature review

  • 2.1 Literacy and Identity
  • 2.2 The Nature and Purpose of Writing
  • 2.3 Approaches to Writing
  • 2.4 Identity and Writing
  • 2.5 Discourse and Identity
  • 2.6 Intertextuality and Identity
  • 2.7 The Theoretical bases for this Study

Chapter 3. Methodology

  • 3.1 Participants
  • 3.2 Materials and Instruments
  • 3.3 Data analysis
  • 3.4 Procedure
  • 3.5 Limitations of the Study

Chapter 4. Results & discussion

  • 4.1 Conclusions Analysis
  • 4.2 Voice Analysis
  • 4.3 Gender Comparison on Voice Expression

Chapter 5. Conclusions

  • 5.1 The Framework for Undergraduate Thesis Conclusions (FUTC)
  • 5.2 Voice Expression
  • 5.3 Implications of the Study
  • 5.4 Directions for Further Research

References

Appendix A. Students’ Interview

Appendix B. Thesis Advisor’s Interview

Appendix C. Billy’s Conclusion Chapter

Olmos López, B. P. 2008. Identity Construction: The Complexity of EFL Academic Writing in Conclusions as Genre. Tesis Maestría. Lingüística Aplicada. Departamento de Lenguas, Escuela de Ciencias Sociales, Artes y Humanidades, Universidad de las Américas Puebla. Mayo. Derechos Reservados © 2008.