The Effects of Teaching Conjunctions on the Cohesion of EFL Students’ Compositions

A well-written work is not only grammatically correct but also cohesive and coherent. Conjunctions are fundamental to the cohesion of a text and should be taught in writing classes. This study explores the role of conjunctions in creating cohesive and coherent writing and their impact on EFL students' written production. The research first assessed 62 students' attitudes toward learning and using conjunctions through a questionnaire, revealing their understanding of conjunctions' importance and a willingness to learn. The primary goal was to examine if teaching conjunctions would enhance students' ability to write cohesive texts. A pre- and post- test design with 50 students from an English center in Ho Chi Minh City showed improved conjunction use and higher mean scores after instruction. The study's findings offer recommendations for teaching conjunctions and suggest further research into cohesion elements in language instruction.