Exploring Syntactic Complexity and Sentence Variety in Academic Essays: A Critical Discourse Analysis
Journal Title: Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal - Year 2025, Vol 31, Issue 9
Abstract
This study analyzed the syntactic complexity and sentence variety in academic essays of BS Nursing students enrolled in the Purposive Communication course at Our Lady of Fatima University Antipolo Campus using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). The findings revealed distinct patterns across performance levels: the Above Average group effectively utilized complex and compound-complex sentences to articulate clear, cohesive, and rhetorically effective arguments, demonstrating strong syntactic flexibility and depth. The Average group predominantly used compound sentences, resulting in logical but less sophisticated essays with moderate coherence. In contrast, the Below Average group relied heavily on simple sentences, producing fragmented arguments with limited clarity and cohesion. The themes explored— clarity and argumentation, coherence and cohesion, and rhetorical effectiveness—highlighted the strong correlation between syntactic complexity and the overall quality of writing. Essays with varied sentence structures exhibited stronger argumentation, better flow, and enhanced rhetorical impact. The study recommends targeted instructional strategies, such as sentence structure workshops and focused writing exercises, to address these gaps and improve students' ability to produce cohesive and well-developed academic essays.
Authors and Affiliations
Herbert John Nachor , Maribeth Besmonte , Myron Willie Roque , Jaymark Santos
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP765805
- DOI 10.5281/zenodo.14836560
- Views 15
- Downloads 0
A Correlational Study of Stress and Work Readiness on Online Shopping Among College Students at a University in the Philippines
influence the outcome of online shopping. According to study, shopping is something that a person does when they are anxious since it aids in the achievement of other hedonic goals, such as self-gratification and mood re...
Uncovering the Root Causes and Far-Reaching Impacts of Floods and Landslides in Brooke's Point, Palawan
The purpose of this research was to look at the core causes of recurring floods and landslides in Brooke's Point, Palawan, and to make suggestions to solve these concerns. Understanding local perspectives of the causes o...
Teachers’ Innovativeness and Adoption of School Innovations in Barra Elementary School, Division of Misamis Oriental
The study sought to determine the influence of the adoption of school innovation to teachers’ innovativeness. Descriptive-correlational research method was utilized and the Statistical tools used in the study were mean,...
A Quantitative Study on the Effects of Transformational Leadership on Work Performance and Affective Commitment
Transformational leadership is characterized by leaders who inspire and motivate their followers to achieve higher levels of performance and commitment. The study utilized a sample of 185 teachers and 19 administrators f...
The Work-Life of PWD Teachers in Public Schools: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study
This study was conducted to investigate the lived experiences of teachers with disabilities (PWD) in public schools in South Cotabato, Philippines. Utilizing a qualitative, transcendental phenomenological design, the res...