Such work is of theoretical interest to linguists, since it is concerned with
the semantic organisation of texts. It has obvious applied interests in helping
students to understand academic materials. The basic pedagogical rationale
is clear enough. We try at least to teach students explicitly about the
organization of written language at the level of graphology: although our
teaching may often be inadequate. We do less well at the level of syntax:
since there is as yet inadequate description of the differences in grammar
between spoken and written English. But systematic teaching about semantic
organization (including cohesion and paraphrase) and discourse (e.g. narrative
structure) is almost non-existent.