This analysis of second language writers' text identifies explicitly and quantifiably where their text differs from that of native speakers of English. The book is based on the results of a large-scale study of university-level native-speaker and non-native-speaker essays written in response to six prompts. Specifically, the research investigates the frequencies of uses of 68 linguistic (syntactic and lexical) and rhetorical features in essays written by advanced non-native speakers compared with those in the essays of native speakers enrolled in first-year composition courses. The selection of features for inclusion in this analysis is based on their textual functions and meanings, as identified in earlier research on English language grammar and lexis. --From publisher's description.

Background : research in text and written discourse. Writing as text -- Research in academic and ESL written discourse and text -- The goals and politics of teaching ESL writing -- The study of features of second language text : essays, the data, and methods of analysis -- Common linguistic and rhetorical features of academic ESL text. Nouns, pronouns, and nominals and their functions and uses in text -- The verb phrase and deverbals and their functions and uses in text -- Adjectives and adverbs and their functions and uses in text -- Subordinate clauses and their functions and uses -- Text-rhetorical features and their functions and uses -- The effect of prompts on ESL text. The first three prompts -- The second three prompts -- The differences that the prompts make -- Conclusion. Determining priorities in teaching and curriculum.