本研究由台灣淡江大學25位英文系學生參與，旨在探討英語為第二外語學生在部落格中的寫作互動。本研究針對學生的發表文章和回應訊息進行分析，進而了解學生在部落格中最喜愛與他人分享和討論的主題為何，並以問卷方式獲悉學生對部落格寫作的看法，以及他們對本研究計畫的態度。研究結果顯示，絕大部分學生偏好在部落格中發表討論與自我揭露和及時重要事件相關的主題，而學生使用部落格的目的也會影響他們對於發表討論某些主題的喜好。由學生的發表文章和回應訊息中發現，他們在部落格中大量使用表情符號，時而附加照片或圖片，這種彈性使用非文字來表達自我的部落格寫作，受到大多數學生的歡迎。本研究亦發現，學生在部落格中的互動情形，最常以陳述意見和提供建議的方式呈現，且學生最常發表的主題與獲得最多回應的主題並無絕對的關聯性。

This study aims to investigate the written interaction of EFL learners in the blogs.  Participants of the study were 25 English majors at Tamkang University, Taiwan.  All of the students’ postings and their responsive messages were analyzed to explore the favorite topics which the students share and discuss with others in the blogging context.  A questionnaire was delivered to the students at the end of the experiment for the speculation about their perception of blog writing and their attitude toward this blog project.  The research findings revealed that a majority of students favored the topics related to self-disclosure and immediate concerns in the blog postings.  The preference for certain topics was influenced by the students’ purposes of writing blogs.  Moreover, the students frequently used emoticons to express their feelings and sometimes inserted photographs or pictures in their postings.  The flexibility of expression themselves in the blogs held a fascination of blog writing for most of the students.  Finally, the results of the study showed that blog interaction occurred most frequently in a way of presenting opinions and making suggestions and in the postings written by enthusiastic bloggers.  There is no significant relation between the most popular topics and the topics responded the most.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS…………………………………………………	i
	
CHINESE ABSTRACT………………………………………………	ii
	
ENGLISH ABSTRACT………………………………………………	iii
	
TABLE OF CONTENTS………………………………………………	v
	
CHAPTER ONE : INTRODUCTION…………………………………	1
Research Background………………………………………………………	1
Purpose of the Study…………………………………………	3
Research Questions……………………………………………	4
Significance of the Study…………………………………	4
Definition of Terms…………………………………………	5
Organization of the Thesis…………………………………	5
	
CHAPTER TWO : REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE…………………	6
Interaction ……………………………………………………	6
Interaction Theory……………………………………………	6
Research on Interaction in Computer Conferencing……	7
Blogs……………………………………………………………	10
History of Blogs………………………………………………	10
Structure and Functions of Blogs…………………………	12
Features and Merits of blogs………………………………	14
Research on Blogs………………………………………………	15
	
CHAPTER THREE : METHODOLOGY…………………………………	19
Participants……………………………………………………	19
Instrument………………………………………………………	20
Procedure…………………………………………………………  20
Data Collection…………………………………………………  22
Data Analysis……………………………………………………	22
	
CHAPTER FOUR : FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION…………………	26
Findings…………………………………………………………	26
Blog Postings…………………………………………………	26
Family life………………………………………………………	27
Campus life ..…………………………………………………	34
Personal reflection……………………………………………	44
Comments on Postings…………………………………………………………	53
Affective responses……………………………………………	54
Expression of emotions…………………………………………	55
Use of humor……………………………………………………	56
Self-disclosure…………………………………………………	56
Expressing sympathy……………………………………………	57
Interactive responses…………………………………………  58
Quoting and referring…………………………………………	59
Asking questions………………………………………………	60
Complimenting and expressing appreciation………………	60
Expressing agreement and disagreement……………………	61
Giving suggestions and presenting opinions………………	62
Giving encouragement……………………………………………	63
Cohesive responses………………………………………………	64
Vocatives…………………………………………………………	64
Using inclusive pronouns………………………………………	65
Phatics and salutations………………………………………	66
Discussion………………………………………………………   67
Top five topics shared in the blogs………………………	67
Top five postings with more responses……………………	71
Students’reaction toward the project…………………	75
	
CHAPTER FIVE : CONCLUSION, IMPLICATIONS, AND SUGGESTIONS……	79
Conclusion………………………………………………………	79
Pedagogical Implications………………………………………	81
Limitations and Suggestions for Further Study…………	82
	
REFERENCES………………………………………………………	84
APPENDIX A……………………………………………………… 	89
APPENDIX B………………………………………………………	92
APPENDIX C………………………………………………………	97
APPENDIX D………………………………………………………	111

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