Understanding Middle Graders' Language Borrowing: How Lexical and Demographic Characteristics Predict Similarity

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 7
  In Roundtable Session: Examining Approaches to Supporting Student Reading and Writing Fluency

Abstract

Language borrowing from source texts is a phenomenon used by developing writers as they are learning academic language from the models around them, though there is much to be learned about how younger students borrow from sources. This study explores student writing across a range of topics to determine patterns in how students borrow from curricular source texts. Lexical and demographic characteristics were used to predict borrowing, and borrowing and demographics were used to predict writing quality. An array of lexical characteristics were significant predictors of borrowing from source text. Demographics, but not borrowing, were significant predictors of overall writing quality. Findings provide specific information about patterns of borrowing and point toward considerations of source texts and instruction.

Authors

• Christina L. Dobbs, Boston University

• Naomi Caselli, Boston University

• Ethan Hartzell, Boston University

• Coral Flanagan, Brown University