A Study of the Epistemic Modality in College Writing

A Study of the Epistemic Modality in College Writing

  This study explores the types and quantity of the epistemic modal verbs, sentence adverbials, and epistemic expressions in the college students" writing. For the study, 52 sophomore medical students in English Reading & Writing class were given the process essay writing assignment, and their essays were collected and reviewed in terms of the number of sentences, words, epistemic modal verbs, sentence adverbials, and epistemic expressions. The results show that approximately one-third of the students use strong epistemic modal verbs such as must. have to, or should when stating proposition and/or suggestion. It is advised that L2 learners be more exposed to the usage of epistemic modality as the quality of academic writing may depend on the adequate use of the epistemic modality. This study further examines if there is any gender difference in quantitative process essay writing and/or in terms of the epistemic expressions.