VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY (VNU)

UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (ULIS)

FACULTY OF LINGUISTICS AND CULTURES OF ENGLISH SPEAKING
COUNTRIES
DIVISION OF ENGLISH LINGUISTICS

Hanoi, 2020
FUNCTIONAL
GRAMMAR
Final Assignment
Modality and Thematic Progression

Class:17E22

Students: Trần Thị Mỹ

Đặng Thị Thu Thủy

Lecturer: Nguyễn Thị Minh Tâm (Ms.)

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Table of Contents
I. INFORMATION OF THE ESSAY……….…………………………. 2
II. THEME ANALYSIS……………………………………………….… 4
1. Detailed analysis
2. Adjustments and explanations
3. Conclusion
III. MODALITY ANALYSIS…………………………………………… 11
1. Detailed analysis
2. Tables of modality distribution and value
3. Adjustments and explanations
4. Conclusion

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I. INFORMATION OF THE ESSAY

1. Topic: Going to college is a dream for many people. Some do the work, and
find jobs. Other students, however, never finish their university studies. Write
an essay about what causes students to drop out of college.
2. Course: English 2A* - Semester 2
3. Writer: Dang Thi Thu Thuy
4. Summary:
The essay is presented with various reasons for rising dropouts from
college, which are rising tuition fees, working benefits, and lack of orientation and
low grades. While higher tuition fees and difficulties with choosing the right
major or achieving high grades tend to discourage students from continuing their
education, various working benefits seem to encourage students to go straight to
the job market.
5. The essay:
College dropouts such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg are very well-
known and successful. Nowadays, quitting university is no longer common only
among entrepreneurs, but everybody. In fact, an increasing number of undergraduates
are opting for other alternatives, instead of pursuing higher education. This alarming
phenomenon can be resulted from following reasons.
First and foremost, it is financial problems that discourage students to further their
education. In fact, it is apparent that in the past few years, university tuition fees have
risen significantly. As a consequence, students, especially those who live in working
class families or rural areas, have to decide whether their investment in tertiary
education is worthy. Generally, due to the high percentage of unemployment among
university students recently, students are highly likely to drop out.
Secondly, working benefits are bound to tempt students into quitting university
education. Indeed, by starting to get a job early, not only can students make desirable
income, they can also learn essential skills and establish their social networks. My
cousin, for instance, decided to get a job instead of going to college after she
graduated from high school. As a result, she had made enough money to sustain
herself, and gained a lot of work experiences and job connections.
Last but not least, it appears that the increasing rate of dropouts is triggered by
students’ lack of orientation. Apparently, students who choose their major wrongly

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stand a high chance of lacking motivation and interest to complete their education.
Moreover, those who frequently have poor academic performances also have a
tendency to drop out, due to the feelings of disappointment and low self-esteem.
Statistics has indicated that students who receive bad grades are 60% more likely than
those who perform well, to drop out of college.
In conclusion, financial difficulties, working advantages and lack of orientation
are highly likely to discourage students from obtaining higher education.

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II. THEME ANALYSIS

1. Detailed analysis
College dropouts such as Bill Gates, Steve Clause 1 T1: College dropouts such as
Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg are very well- Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark
known and successful. Nowadays, quitting Zuckerberg (topical, UM)
university is no longer common only among R1: are very well-known and
entrepreneurs, but everybody. In fact, an successful
Clause 2 T2: Nowadays (topical, M)
increasing number of undergraduates are
R2: quitting university is no
opting for other alternatives, instead of
longer common only among
pursuing higher education. This alarming
entrepreneurs, but everybody
phenomenon can be resulted from following
Clause 3 T3: In fact (interpersonal), an
reasons.
increasing number of
undergraduates (topical, UM)
R3: are opting for other
alternatives, instead of pursuing
higher education

Clause 4 T4: This alarming phenomenon

(topical, UM)
R4: can be resulted from
following reasons

Clause 5 T5: First and foremost (textual),

First and foremost, it is financial problems
it is financial problems that
that discourage students to further their
(topical, M)
education. In fact, it is apparent that in the
R5: discourage students to
past few years, university tuition fees have
further their education
risen significantly. As a consequence,
Clause 6 T6: In fact (interpersonal), it is
students, especially those who live in
apparent that (interpersonal), in
working class families or rural areas, have
the past few years (topical, M)
to decide whether their investment in
R6: university tuition fees have
tertiary education is worthy. Generally, due
risen significantly

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Clause 7
to the high percentage of unemployment
among university students recently, students
are highly likely to drop out.
Clause 8
Clause 9
Secondly, working benefits are bound to
tempt students into quitting university
education. Indeed, by starting to get a job
early, not only can students make desirable
income, they can also learn essential skills
and establish their social networks. My
cousin, for instance, decided to get a job
instead of going to college after she
graduated from high school. As a result, she
had made enough money to sustain herself,
Clause
and gained a lot of work experiences and
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job connections.
Clause
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5
T7: As a consequence (textual),
students, especially those who
live in working class families or
rural areas (topical, UM)
R7: have to decide whether their
investment in tertiary education
is worthy
T8: Generally (interpersonal),
due to the high percentage of
unemployment among university
students recently (topical, M)
R8: students are highly likely to
drop out.
T9: Secondly (textual), working
benefits (topical, UM)
R9: are bound to tempt students
into quitting university education
T10: Indeed (interpersonal), by
starting to get a job early
(topical, M)
R10: not only can students make
desirable income, they can also
learn essential skills and
establish their social networks
T11: My cousin (topical, UM)
R11: for instance, decided to get
a job instead of going to college
after she graduated from high
school
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Clause T12: As a result (textual), she

Last but not least, it appears that the
increasing rate of dropouts is triggered by
students’ lack of orientation. Apparently,
students who choose their major wrongly
stand a high chance of lacking motivation
and interest to complete their education.
Moreover, those who frequently have poor
academic performances also have a
tendency to drop out, due to the feelings of
disappointment and low self-esteem.
Statistics has indicated that students who
receive bad grades are 60% more likely
than those who perform well, to drop out of Clause
college.
12 (topical, UM)
R12: had made enough money to
sustain herself , and gained a lot
of work experiences and job
connections.
Clause T13: Last but not least (textual),
13 it appears that (interpersonal),
the increasing rate of dropouts
(topical, UM)
R13: is triggered by students’
lack of orientation
Clause T14: Apparently (interpersonal),
14 students who choose their major
wrongly (topical, UM)
R14: stand a high chance of
lacking motivation and interest to
complete their education
T15: Moreover (textual), those
15 who frequently have poor
academic performances (topical,
UM)
R15: also have a tendency to
drop out, due to the feelings of
disappointment and low self-
esteem
Clause T16: Statistics (topical, UM)
16 R16: has indicated that students
who receive bad grades are 60%
more likely than those who
perform well, to drop out of
college

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In conclusion, financial difficulties, Clause T17: In conclusion (textual),

working advantages and lack of orientation 17 financial difficulties, working
are highly likely to discourage students advantages and lack of
from obtaining higher education orientation (topical, UM)
R17: are highly likely to
discourage students from
obtaining higher education

Thematic Progression Clauses

Zigzag C3 – C4
C13 – C14

Constant C11 – C12

Split Rheme None
Split Theme None

2. Adjustments and explanations

2.1. Themes

In terms of textual themes, this essay has relatively effective conjunctions to connect
ideas, which is quite suitable for argumentative essays. With regard to interpersonal themes,
since all of these themes in the essay are modal adjuncts, and in argumentative essays, using
modal adjuncts is considered effective if they can help the arguments become stronger or
more objective. In order not to create overlaps, specific adjustments related to interpersonal
themes will be presented in modality adjustments.

Regarding topical themes, some of the topical themes will be changed mainly to
create more accuracy, cohesion or thematic progression. All of these changes are as follows.

2.2. Thematic progression

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Original version College dropouts such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg are
very well-known and successful. Nowadays, quitting university is no
longer common only among entrepreneurs, but everybody.

Adjustment 1 College dropouts such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg are
very well-known and successful. Entrepreneurs quitting university,
nowadays are no longer uncommon, but this is true for everybody.

In the original version, T2 (nowadays) is a marked theme used to create emphasis on

the circumstance. However, in order to create constant progression between these two
sentences, entrepreneurs quitting university will be turned into the topical theme of C2.
Moreover, nowadays will still be placed right after the topical theme, thus, the emphasis
intended will not be significantly decreased.

Original version First and foremost, it is financial problems that discourage students to
further their education. In fact, it is apparent that in the past few years,
university tuition fees have risen significantly
Adjustment 2 First and foremost, it is schooling fees that discourage students to
further their education. In fact, it is apparent that university tuition
fees, in the past few years, have risen significantly

First, the topical theme of C5 (financial problems) should be replaced by schooling

fees. The reason for this change is that there is only one financial problem mentioned in this
paragraph, which is rising tuition fees, therefore, the topic sentence will be more accurate.
Second, the topical theme of C6 will be university tuition fees, instead of the original
marked theme in the past few years. In this way, constant progression will be created.

Original version Last but not least, it appears that the increasing rate of dropouts is
triggered by students’ lack of orientation. Apparently, students who
choose their major wrongly stand a high chance of lacking motivation
and interest to complete their education. Moreover, those who
frequently have poor academic performances also have a tendency to
drop out, due to the feelings of disappointment and low self-esteem.
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Adjustment 3 Last but not least, it appears that the increasing rate of dropouts is
triggered by students’ lack of orientation and low academic
performance. Apparently, choosing their major wrongly is likely to
result in lower motivation and interest to complete students’ education.
Moreover, having poor grades can also encourage students to drop out,
due to their feelings of disappointment and low self-esteem

The main idea of the third paragraph is students’ lack of orientation, with two
supporting ideas students who choose their major wrongly and those who frequently have
poor academic performances. First, this is inaccurate since having low grades is not
synonymous with lack of orientation. Therefore, the change should be students’ lack of
orientation and low academic performance. Furthermore, in order to create split rheme
progression, topical themes of C14 and C15 will be turned into choosing their major
wrongly and having poor grades, since these are the two ideas split from R13. Overall, the
new adjustments will make the clauses more accurate and cohesive.

Original version In conclusion, financial difficulties, working advantages and lack of

orientation are highly likely to discourage students from obtaining
higher education

Adjustment 4 In conclusion, financial difficulties, working advantages, lack of

orientation and low grades are highly likely to discourage students
from obtaining higher education

The final adjustment is lack of orientation and low grades, so that all of the main
ideas mentioned in the essay is coherent and unified.

3. Conclusion in terms of theme

In conclusion, for argumentative genre, the appropriate use of textual themes to create
cohesion and the use of interpersonal themes to signal facts or opinions are vitally important.
In the former respect, the essay was quite sufficiently effective, while in the latter respect,
there seems to be some redundancies. Additionally, it is of equal importance that a diversity

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of thematic progression should be present so that all of the ideas are logically and smoothly
organized. With regard to this, the essay appears to lack a variety of thematic progression,
and in several places, a lack of unity and accuracy can also be detected. Many suggestions
have been made in improve these aspects.

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III. MODALITY ANALYSIS

1. Detailed analysis

College dropouts such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg are very well-known
and successful.

College dropouts do be very well-known and

such as Bill Gates, successful
Steve Jobs, Mark
Zuckerberg
Subject Finite Predicator Complement
Mood Residue

Nowadays, quitting university is no longer common only among entrepreneurs, but

everybody.

Nowadays quitting does be no longer common only

university among
entrepreneurs,
but
everybody
Circumstantial Subject Finite Predicator Circumstantial Complement
adjunct adjunct

Residue Mood Residue

In fact, an increasing number of undergraduates are opting for other alternatives,

instead of pursuing higher education.

In fact an increasing is opting for other

number of alternatives,
undergraduates instead of
pursuing
higher
education
Comment Subject Finite Predicator Complement
adjunct

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Value: high
Mood Residue

This alarming phenomenon can be resulted from following reasons.

This alarming can be resulted from

phenomenon following reasons
Subject Finite Predicator Complement
modulation:
inclination (medium)
Mood Residue

First and foremost, it is financial problems that discourage students to further their
education.

First and it is financial do discourage students to

foremost problems that further their
education
Conjunction Subject Finite Predicator Complement
Ø Mood Residue

In fact, it is apparent that in the past few years, university tuition fees have risen
significantly.

In fact it is apparent in the past few university have risen significantly

that years tuition
fees
Comment Modality: Circumstantial Subject Finite Predicator Adverb
adjunct Modalization adjunct Comment
Value: Probability adjunct
high Value: high Value: high
Mood Residue Mood Residue Mood

As a consequence, students, especially those who live in working class families or rural
areas, have to decide whether their investment in tertiary education is worthy.

As a students, have to decide whether their

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consequence especially those investment in

who live in tertiary
working class education is
families or rural worthy
areas
Conjunction Subject Finite Predicator Complement
Modality:
Modulation –
obligation
(high)
Ø Mood Residue

Generally, due to the high percentage of unemployment among university students

recently, students are highly likely to drop out.

Generally due to the high students are highly likely to drop out
percentage of
unemployment
among university
students recently
Comment Circumstantial Subject Finite Modality: Predicator
adjunct adjunct modalization
Value: Probability
medium (high)
Mood Residue Mood Residue

Secondly, working benefits are bound to tempt students into quitting university
education.

Secondly working are bound to tempt students into

benefits quitting
university
education
Conjunction Subject Finite Modality: Predicator Complement
modalization
Probability
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(high)
Ø Mood Residue

Indeed, by starting to get a job early, not only can students make desirable income

Indeed by starting to not only can student make desirable

get a job early s income
Commen Circumstantial Conjunction Finite Subject Predicator Complement
t adjunct adjunct modulation:
inclination
(high)
Mood Residue Ø Mood Residue

They can also learn essential skills and establish their social networks.

They can also learn essential skills and establish their

social networks
Subject Finite Conjunction Predicator complement
modulation
: inclination
(high)
Mood Ø Residue

My cousin, for instance, decided to get a job instead of going to college after she
graduated from high school.

My cousin for instance did decide to get a job after she

instead of graduated
going to from high
college school
Subject Conjunction Finite Predicator Complement Circumstantial
adjunct
Modality:
Modulation
Inclination:
Value: high

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Mood Ø Mood Residue

As a result, she had made enough money to sustain herself, and gained a lot of work
experiences and job connections.

As a result she had made enough money to sustain herself, and

gained a lot of work experiences and
job connections

Conjunction Subject Finite Predicator Complement

Ø Mood Residue

Last but not least, it appears that the increasing rate of dropouts is triggered by
students’ lack of orientation.

Last but not it appears the is triggered by students’

least that increasing lack of
rate of orientation.
dropouts

Conjunction Modal Subject Finite Predicator Complement

adjunct

Value:
medium

Ø Mood Residue

Apparently, students who choose their major wrongly stand a high chance of lacking
motivation and interest to complete their education.

Apparently students who do stand a high lacking motivation and

choose their chance of interest to
major complete their
wrongly education.

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Modality:
Comment Subject Finite Predicator Complement
modalization
adjunct (high)
Probability
(high)

Mood Residue

Moreover, those who frequently have poor academic performances also have a tendency
to drop out, due to the feelings of disappointment and low self-esteem.

Moreover those who also do have a drop out due to the

frequently tendency to feelings of
have poor disappointment
academic and low self-
performances esteem.
Modality:
Conjunction Subject Conjunction Finite Predicator Complement
modalization

Probability
(medium)

Ø Mood Ø Mood Residue

Those who frequently have poor academic performances

Those who frequently do have poor academic

performances

Subject Mood adjunct Finite Predicator Complement

value: high

Mood Residue

Statistics has indicated that students who receive bad grades are 60% more likely than
those who perform well, to drop out of college.

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Statistics has indicated that students who

receive bad grades
are 60% more likely
than those who
perform well, to drop
out of college.

Subject Finite Predicator Complement

Mood Residue

that students who receive bad grades are 60% more likely than those who perform well,
to drop out of college.

that students are 60% more than those to drop of college

who likely who out
receive perform
bad well
grades
Modality:
Conjunctio Subject Finite Complement Predicator Complement
modalization
n
Probability
(high)

Ø Mood Residue

In conclusion, financial difficulties, working advantages and lack of orientation are

highly likely to discourage students from obtaining higher education.

In conclusion financial are highly likely discourage students

difficulties, to from
working obtaining
advantages higher
and lack of education

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orientation
Modality:
Conjunction Subject Finite Predicator Complement
modalization

Probability
(high)

Ø Mood Residue

2. Tables of modality distribution and value

TYPES Modalization Modulation Modal adjunct

(mood and
comment adjunct)

Probabilit Usuality  Obligatio Inclinatio

y n n

Number of 7 0 1 4 7
times used by
the writer

Low Medium High

0 4 15

From the analysis above, it can be concluded that there is a dense modality use in the writing,
specifically 19 times/17 sentences. Overall, the essay takes well advantage of modality. The
writer flexibly uses different kinds of modality of different values to support her ideas.
However, the overuse of some modalities such as in fact, apparently, and likely may cause
repetition, making the essay quite boring, and, to some extent, not showing the writer's
diverse lexis.

3. Adjustments and explanations

No Original version Adjustment Explanation

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In fact, it is apparent
1 It is apparent that This sentence uses three kinds of
that in the past few
in the past few modality, all of which are of high
years, university
years, university value. This is unnecessary since the
tuition fees have risen
tuition fees have idea is supported enough with only
significantly.
risen significantly. two of these three elements.
Besides, the sentence also is in form
of an “it is…that…” one, which also
uses to emphasize the ideas. In order
not to change the structure of the
sentence, omitting in fact is
reasonable.

2 Generally, due to the Generally, due to Although the sentence uses

high percentage of the high percentage generally to soften the idea, it is
unemployment among of unemployment still too strong and biased with
university students among university highly likely, which is not well-
recently, students are students recently, supported with specific statistics. As
highly likely to drop students are likely a result, the reader may wonder the
out. to drop out. reliability of the text. Therefore, the
use of likely seems to be more
persuasive even though it is just of
medium value.
Secondly, working
3 Secondly, working This is also an absolute argument
benefits are bound to
benefits tend to since it concludes quitting
tempt students into
tempt students into university education is surely a
quitting university
quitting university choice of students due to working
education.
education. benefits without any specific
support. Moreover, the following
supporting ideas are not strong
enough since it can only prove the
benefits of working to the students,
but the benefits of quitting
university education. The students

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can both do a part-time job and

pursue university education, these
two do not conflict with each other.

4 Apparently, students Students who There are two high-value modality

who choose their choose their major namely apparently and stand a
major wrongly stand a wrongly stand a high chance of appearing in this
high chance of lacking chance of lacking sentence, making the idea a strong
motivation and interest motivation and argument. However, this argument
to complete their interest to complete is not firmly grounded with
education. their education. statistics; therefore, the use of high-
value modality may devalue the
statement instead. Moreover, the
word apparently seems to be
overused, therefore, omitting both
apparently and high appears better.

4. Conclusion in terms of modality

In conclusion, the essay makes good use of modalities of both medium and high value,
making the arguments stronger and more persuasive since this is an argumentative essay.
However, sometimes, the writer overuses the modalities in one sentence, which is
unnecessary. Additionally, the use of high-value modalities without specific statistics or
evidence may have reverse effects on the argument. Therefore, the suggestions for those
sentences with these characteristics are omitting the unnecessary and devalue the modalities.
This will soften the essay or else the essay may sound compulsory and subjective.

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