Theme-Rheme configuration in recount texts produced by Indonesian EFL students

Abstract

The topic of this study is the textual meaning in recount texts written by the fourth semester students of English Department Universitas Negeri Semarang in the academic year 2018/2019. This study is conducted since there are still limited research that is conducted in Indonesia which analyses the problems of thematic development because most of Indonesian researchers are only analyses the thematic structure and thematic development pattern. This study aimed to figure out the thematic structure, thematic development pattern, and the problems of thematic development in students’ recount texts. The text analysis of qualitative method was employed to enhance the results. The result of the thematic structures showed that the unmarked topical Theme was frequently used than the marked one in terms of topical Theme, the conjunctions became the mostly used element in textual Theme, and the modal adjuncts became the frequently used constituent in interpersonal Theme. In the case of thematic development patterns, the Theme re-iteration (constant Theme pattern) became the mostly used pattern since the function is to keep the text focused. It has been found that there were three problems of thematic development in students’ recount texts: (1) the problem of the brand-new Theme, (2) the problem of double Rheme, and (3) the problem of empty Rheme. The results of this study indicate that the students belong to beginner (inexperienced) writer.

Recount Text in EFL Vocational School: A Thematic Structure Analysis

“…Continuative is the expression of sound, word, or phrases, creating one meaning and context (Sitanggang, 2018). Using conjunctions is the easy way to link a clause to another element (Meiarista & Widhiyanto, 2020). Their frequent use of the Textual theme indicates the writer's ability to develop the logical relationship between clauses that make their texts more cohesive and coherent (Susilowati, Faridi & Sakhiyya, 2022).…”

“…Delivering the ideas through reports is essential to students in the vocational school before entering any industry. Writing skills is challenging for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students because of the complication in the writing practice (Meiarista & Widhiyanto, 2020). Students need to regard any aspects to write a good composition.…”

“…Also, there are a lot of errors or mistakes in their writing. The other problem in starting an essay is to correspond every clause into a cohesive and coherent text (Meiarista & Widhiyanto, 2020). Furthermore, the students face the problem of writing recount text in terms of content, organization, grammar, mechanic, and generic structure in orientation and re-orientation (Husna & Multazim, 2019).…”

“…Qomariah (2021) found that from 35 students' recount text in one of senior high school the most theme frequently used was the topical theme, and the often element of topical theme was the nominal group, and the student starts their recount text with a word or phrase as a subject and adjunct. Another study, Meiarista & Widhiyanto (2020), reported that unmarked topical theme was frequently use in university students' recount text. Triggered by the scarcity of academic research onto this staple unit of English language teaching material, the researchers found it interesting to explore the theme and rheme in recount texts of vocational students.…”

Analysis Ideational Metafunction In Recount Text At SMAN 1 Panai Hilir Labuhanbatu, Sumatera Utara

“…In this study, the researcher will use library research to expand the hypotheses and support the analysis with references from books, journals, and articles that are relevant to the inquiry. The recount text written by SMA N 1 Panai Hilir pupils was used by the researcher (Meiarista & Widhiyanto, 2020). The information came from the transcript of the recount.…”