Investigating the Use of Conjunctions as Cohesive Devices in Writing among MBA Students Case Study: Sudan International University

Abstract

Abstract This study aims to investigate the use of conjunctions as cohesive devices in writing by Sudanese business students by using the taxonomy of cohesive relationship as provided by Halliday and Hassan (1976). This study uses a qualitative research method for data collection and analytical descriptive method for data analysis. The researcher has administered a written test consist of two sections at the sentence and the paragraph levels distributed to 48 MBA students from semester one at Sudan International University (SIU). The results reveal that students misuse conjunctions and are not competent of their types. The study also reveals that some types of conjunctions are used more frequently than the others and in some cases they do not use them at all. This study suggests some recommendations such as teachers of English language at universities should raise student’s awareness and knowledge about the use of conjunctions as cohesive devices. English departments at universities should introduce extensive excurses for conjunctions that focus on writing techniques and practice related to the proper use of conjunctions as grammatical cohesive devices. Ill