Corpus-based Analyses of the Problem–Solution Pattern

This book reports research on the Problem-Solution rhetorical pattern, which has to date received very little attention in corpus-based studies. Insights from genre analysis and systemic-functional grammar are also applied to the analysis of the Problem-Solution pattern, thus moving towards a more multi-faceted analysis of corpus data. The pattern is investigated in two specialized corpora of technically-oriented report writing, a professional corpus and a student corpus, using a key word and key-key word analysis. Phraseological analyses of key words in both corpora are presented. Data show that students’ writing lacks a range of lexico-grammatical patternings for expressing the Problem and Solution elements of the pattern. The book concludes with some pedagogic implications and applications of the findings. Suggested concordancing activities are discussed within the context of key issues in the field of data-driven learning.