An investigation of Taiwanese novice EFL writers’ experiences of the construction of intercultural genre writing

Abstract

Based on a framework of linking intercultural rhetoric research to genre theories, the present study investigated Taiwanese EFL novice students’ construction of generic structures and rhetorical features in writing in L1 (Chinese) and L2 (English). Quantitative and qualitative research methods were combined in the present study, including textual analysis of students’ genre writing, a student questionnaire and interviews with students. The textual analysis focused on the construction of genre-rhetoric conventions in intercultural letters of job application and argumentative writing, respectively. The student questionnaire explored writers’ reported writing instructional experiences in L1 and L2. The results of interviews suggested that writers’ decisions on the genre-rhetoric construction were affected by a wider range of small culture factors, for example, familiarity with writing topics, L2 language proficiency, transferability of writing experiences, and contextual factors, together with writers’ large cultural influence. The overall findings suggest that the way writers approach genre writing is significantly influenced and shaped by the context of situation. More importantly, writers’ agency has to be highlighted as it triggers and mediates social processes of multidimensional negotiation between text, writer and context in L2 writing. It is therefore suggested that context of situation where writing is produced and writers’ agency are two influential factors for shaping Taiwanese novice EFL students’ intercultural genre writing.

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ORCID for Will Baker: orcid.org/0000-0003-0533-2795

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