Eastern Washington University EWU Digital Commons EWU Masters Thesis Collection Student Research and Creative Works 2013 ARABIC RHETORIC: MAIN IDEA, DEVELOPMENT, PARALLELISM, AND WORD REPETITION Melissa Van De Wege Eastern Washington University Follow this and additional works at: http://dc.ewu.edu/theses Recommended Citation Van De Wege, Melissa, "ARABIC RHETORIC: MAIN IDEA, DEVELOPMENT, PARALLELISM, AND WORD REPETITION" (2013). EWU Masters Thesis Collection. 257. http://dc.ewu.edu/theses/257 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Research and Creative Works at EWU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in EWU Masters Thesis Collection by an authorized administrator of EWU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ARABIC RHETORIC: MAIN IDEA, DEVELOPMENT, PARALLELISM, AND WORD REPETITION A Thesis presented to Eastern Washington University Cheney, Washington ______________________________________________________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in English, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) ________________________________________________ By Melissa Van De Wege Winter 2013 THESIS OF MELISSA VAN DE WEGE APPROVED BY ________________________________________ _______________________ Tracey McHenry, Ph.D. Date Associate Professor of English Chair, Graduate Study Committee ________________________________________ _______________________ Justin Young, Ph. D. Date Assistant Professor of English Member, Graduate Study Committee ________________________________________ _______________________ Nadean Meyer, M.L.S. Date Learning Resources Librarian Member, Graduate Study Committee ii Authorization In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a master’s degree at Eastern Washington University, I agree that the JFK Library shall make copies freely available for inspection. I further agree that copying of this project in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this thesis in whole or in part for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without my written permission. Signature ___________________________________ Date ____________________________ iii ABSTRACT This thesis contributes to the body of research on Arabic rhetoric. It specifically unites research on the elements of Arabic rhetoric of: main idea, development in body paragraphs, parallelism, and word repetition. It examines the rhetorical tendencies of native Arabic-speaking students from Saudi Arabia and one way these elements of Arabic rhetoric are reflected in essays as a whole written in English by Arabic-speaking students. This thesis also addresses the issue of whether or not Arabic rhetoric may be characterized by making multiple arguments or one argument. This study found one way that the four elements are connected together and that Arabic rhetoric may be characterized by one argument from one angle. This research also establishes preliminary work for one direction further research on Arabic rhetoric and related pedagogical implications for instructors of English. iv Acknowledgements I would like to express my deep gratitude to my thesis chair, Dr. Tracey McHenry for her continued support and encouragement throughout my graduate career and for her consistent guidance in completing this thesis. I would like to express my thanks to Dr. Justin Young for his mentorship in my teaching composition during my graduate career. I also wish to thank Dr. Dana Elder for inspiring me in my professional endeavors. Thank you also to my committee member, Nadean Meyer for the engaging library sessions she has provided my students and me. In addition, I wish to thank my parents for their consistent support of me in my professional pursuits. I am grateful for both of you. Lastly, I would like to thank my colleagues, Codie Deyo and Nick Stephens. My time here as a graduate student and instructor was all that more enjoyable with colleagues like you. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract .................................................................................. ............................................ iv Acknowledgements .................................................................. ......................................... v List of Figures ................................................................................................................... viii List of Appendices ............................................................................................................. ix CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1 Importance of the research ..................................................................................................... 3 Goals of the research ............................................................................................................... 4 The rhetorical elements .......................................................................................................... 5 Definition of terms ...................................................................................................................7 Overview of thesis ................................................................................................................... 8 CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF LITERATURE PART 1 Contrastive rhetoric ................................................................................................................. 9 Culture: Individualism and collectivism................................................................................ 11 Criticism of contrastive rhetoric ............................................................................................ 15 Rhetorical influences .............................................................................................................. 17 Intercultural rhetoric ............................................................................................................. 20 Differences and similarities in between Middle Eastern countries ..................................... 21 CHAPTER 3: REVIEW OF LITERATURE PART 2 Aristotle and the Muslims ..................................................................................................... 23 Arabic’s oral history: Its connection to Arabic rhetoric ...................................................... 29 Direct and indirect main idea ............................................................................................... 32 Development in body paragraphs: Elaboration .................................................................. 36 Paragraph connection: Transition words and phrases vs. parallelism ............................... 41 Key word repetition ............................................................................................................... 44 vi CHAPTER 4: METHODOLOGY Purpose of this research ....................................................................................................... 47 Objective of this research ..................................................................................................... 47 Methodology ........................................................................................................................... 47 Research limitations .............................................................................................................. 49 CHAPTER 5: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION Main idea, development, parallelism, and word repetition: The Qur’an ............................ 51 Student essay: Analysis and discussion ............................................................................... 59 Main idea in key word repetition ............................................................................ 60 Paragraph development ........................................................................................... 60 Parallelism and transition words/ phrases ............................................................. 62 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 65 CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSIONS, IMPLICATIONS, AND FURTHER RESEARCH Conclusions ............................................................................................................................ 67 Implications for instructors ................................................................................................... 71 Recommendations for further research ................................................................................ 72 References ........................................................................................................................... 74 Appendices .......................................................................................................................... 79 Language learning profile .............................................................................................. 98 Statement of teaching philosophy ............................................................................. 100 Curriculum vitae .............................................................................................................. 101 vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Outline of Qur’an 59:22-24 ...................................................................