Title: The Effects of Automated Essay Scoring on the Syntactic Complexity of Intermediate EFL Learners’ Writing

Abstract: The study investigates the effects of the feedback of iWrite system on the syntactic complexity of intermediate EFL learners’ writing. Using L2SCA, the study analyzes the overall complexity, subordinate complexity and phrase complexity. The results show that MLT, CP/T and CN/T significantly increased with the help of the feedback from iWrite system; however, there is no significant increase in terms of C/T and DC/T. The research argues that it is probably related to the feedback provided by the system. In addition, VP/T significantly decreases, which is the result of the avoidance strategy adopted by the learners.

Keywords: Automated Essay Scoring, syntactic complexity, L2 writing

Author: Jiandong Hou, Associate Professor, College of Foreign Languages, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China.

DOI: 10.19967/j.cnki.flc.2024.01.013