THEME, RHEME AND THEMATIC PROGRESSION OF STUDENTS’ HORTATORY EXPOSITION TEXT AT THE TWELFTH GRADE OF MAN 2 MODEL MEDAN.

THEME, RHEME AND THEMATIC PROGRESSION OF
STUDENTS’ HORTATORY EXPOSITION TEXT AT THE
TWELFTH GRADE OF MAN 2 MODEL MEDAN

A THESIS

Submitted to Fulfill the Partial Requirement for
the Degree of Sarjana Pendidikan

By
FAJRIAH HASANAH
Registration Number: 2121121003

ENGLISH AND LITERATURE DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LANGUAGES AND ARTS
STATE UNIVERSITY OF MEDAN
2017

DECLARATION
I have familiarized myself with The University’s Policy on Academic
integrity. Except where appropriately acknowledged, this thesis is my own work,

has been expressed in my own words and has not previously been submitted for
assessment.
I understand that this paper may be screened electronically or otherwise
for plagiarism.

Medan, Februari 2017

Fajriah Hasanah
Reg. No. 2121121003

ABSTRACT
Hasanah, Fajriah. 2121121003. Theme, Rheme and Thematic Progression of
Students’ Hortatory Exposition Text of the Twelfth Grade at MAN 2 Model
Medan. A Thesis. English Education. Faculty of Languages and Arts, State
University of Medan. 2017.
This study deals with the theme, rheme and thematic progression of students’
hortatory exposition text of the Twelfth Grade at MAN 2 Model Medan. The
objectives of the study were to investigate thematic progression pattern used and
the misuse of theme and rheme occurs in students’ hortatory exposition text. This
study was conducted by using descriptive qualitative method. The data in this

study were clauses of students’ hortatory exposition text. The instrument for
collecting data was writing test of hortatory exposition text. The data were
analyzed by using interactive model technique of Miles, Huberman and Saldana
(2014). The findings indicated that there were two patterns of thematic
progression used in students’ hortatory exposition text, they were Theme
Reiteration/Constant Theme Pattern (TR/CTP), and Zig-zag/Linear Theme Pattern
(Zig-zag/LTP). In terms of the problems of the misuse from theme and rheme,
there two occurred in the students’ hortatory exposition text, they were the
problems of brand new theme and empty rheme.
Keywords: Theme, Rheme, Thematic Progression, Hortatory Exposition text.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Beyond words, the writer would like to thank Allah SWT and the Prophet
Muhammad SAW for countless blessing, knowledge, and opportunity so that the
writer can finished the academic year. This thesis aimed to fulfill one of the
requirements for the degree of Sarjana Pendidikan of the English Department,
Faculty of Language and Arts, State University of Medan (UNIMED).
In complementing this thesis, the writer realized that she faced some

problems, she had received the academic guidance, suggestions, comments, and
got a lot of assistance and moral support from people. Therefore, the writer
expresses her gratitude and special thanks to:


Prof. Dr. Syawal Gultom, M.Pd., the Rector of the State University of



Medan.



Arts, the State University of Medan.

Dr. Isda Pramuniati, M.Hum., the Dean of Faculty of Languages and



Prof. Dr. Hj. Sumarsih, M.Pd., the Head of English Department.




examiner who had given their precious time, guidance, and suggestions.



Study Program.

Dra. Meisuri, M.A., the Secretary of English Department and her

Nora Ronita Dewi, S.Pd., S.S., M.Hum., the Head of English Education

Dr. Anni Holila Pulungan, M.Hum., her First Thesis Advisor and Dr. I
Wayan Dirgeyasa, M.Hum., her second Thesis Adviser who had given
their support, advices, guidance, and their precious time in the process of



completing this Thesis.




time, guidance, suggestions, and comments.



advised her throughout the academic years.

Masitowarni Siregar, M.Ed her Examiner who had given their precious

All the Lectures of English Department who had taught, guided, and

Eis Sri Wahyuni, M.Pd., the Administration Staff of English Department,
for her attention, assistance, and information in completing this Thesis.

ii




Dr. H. Burhanuddin, M.Pd., the Headmaster of MAN 2 Model Medan,
for his permission in allowing the writer to do observation and to collect



the data needed for the Thesis.
Fatimah Nasution, S.Ag., S.Pd., M.Pd., the English Teacher of MAN 2
Model Medan, for the supports, guidance, suggestions, and motivations in
the process of completing this Thesis and all the teachers and students at



the school for the good cooperation.
Drs. Zainuddin and Saidah, her beloved parents, for their supports,
endless love, prayer, inspiration, motivation, courage, and everything that
they have given to the writer during the process of completing the Thesis.



This Thesis is dedicated to you.

Her beloved sisters and brothers, Azliatul Fahma, Siti Maimuna,
Muhammad Fadhil and Muhammad Alfin Fikri and also Her nieces



Tazkiya Ulfa.
Her close friends; Putri, Dwita, Nisa, Wawa, Hera, and Eli for the
courage, motivation, help and spirit during the completion of her Thesis.



Thank you for always be there for her.
Her friends in Reguler Dik A 2012, for their love and togetherness
throughout the four years; Her friends in PPLT SMP Negeri 3 Stabat for



the togetherness, and the experiences shared;
For those whose names cannot be mentioned, yet had inspired, encouraged
and give her support, help, and laughers during her study years and the

process of writing of this thesis.
Finally, the writer hopes this Thesis would be useful for those who read it.

Medan,

Februari 2017

The writer,

Fajriah Hasanah
Reg. No. 2121121003

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pages
ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................. i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................................ ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................... iv
LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................... vii

LIST OF FIGURES …………………………………………………………………. viii
LIST OF APPENDICES …………………………………………………………….. ix
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................ 1

A. The Background of the Study

............... 1

B. The Problem of the Study ............................................................................. 4
C. The Objective of the Study ........................................................................... 4
D. The Scope of the Study ................................................................................ 5
E. The Significance of the Study ....................................................................... 5
CHAPTER II. REVIEW OF LIERATURE ............................................................. 6

A. Theoretical Framework ................................................................................ 6
1. Systemic Functional Grammar ................................................................. 6
a. Metafunctions ......................................................................................7
b. Textual Function ..................................................................................9
c. Theme and Rheme ................................................................................11
1) Types of Theme ..............................................................................11

a) Unmarked and Marked theme .....................................................11
b) Simple and Multiple Theme .......................................................12
2) Theme in Clause .............................................................................14
d. Intersection of Markedness and Complexity of Theme .........................16
e. Systems of Theme and rheme ...............................................................17
f. The problems of misuse of theme and rheme ........................................18
g. Thematic Progression ...........................................................................19
1) Theme Reiteration/Constant Theme Pattern .....................................20
2) Zig-zag/Linear Theme Pattern .........................................................21

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3) Multiple Theme/Split Rheme Pattern ...............................................22
2. Writing .....................................................................................................23
a. The Definition of Writing .....................................................................23
b. The Purpose of Writing ........................................................................24
c. The Process of Writing .........................................................................25
3. Genre Writing ...........................................................................................26
4. Hortatory Exposition Text ........................................................................27
a. Social Function ....................................................................................27

b. Genre Structure and Text Element ........................................................28
c. The Linguistic Feature ..........................................................................29
d. Example of Hortatory Exposition Text .................................................30
B. Relevant Studies ............................................................................................31
C. Conceptual Framework .................................................................................33
CHAPTER III. RESEARCH METHOD .................................................................. 35

A. Research Design ...........................................................................................35
B. Data ad Source of Data .................................................................................36
C. Technique of Collecting Data .......................................................................36
D. Technique of Analyzing Data .......................................................................36
CHAPTER IV. DATA, DATA ANALYSIS, FINDING AND DISCUSSION .......... 39

A. Data .............................................................................................................39
B. Data Analysis ...............................................................................................39
1. Thematic Progression Pattern of Students’ Text .......................................42
a. Theme reiteration/constant Theme pattern ............................................42
b. Zig-zag/ linear Theme pattern ..............................................................43
2. The Problems from Misuse of Theme and Rheme .....................................48

a. The problem of brand new Theme..........................................................48
b. The problem of the empty Rheme .........................................................49
C. Finding .........................................................................................................50
D. Discussion ....................................................................................................51
CHAPTER V. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS ......................................... 53

A. Conclusions ..................................................................................................53

v

B. Suggestions ..................................................................................................53
REFERENCES .......................................................................................................... 54
APPENDICES ........................................................................................................... 56

vi

LIST OF TABLES
Pages
Table 1.1 The Problems of Coherence in Student’s Writing .............................. 3
Table 2.1 Realisation of the Three Metafunction ................................................ 10
Table 2.2 The structure of Theme and Rheme .................................................... 12
Table 2.3 Unmarked and Marked Theme ........................................................... 13
Table 2.4 Simple Theme ...................................................................................... 13
Table 2.5 Multiple Theme ................................................................................... 15
Table 2.6 Theme in Clause Complex .................................................................. 16
Table 2.7 Theme in Embedded Clause ............................................................... 16
Table 2.8 Theme in Embedded Clause ............................................................... 17
Table 2.9 Theme Generated by its Markedness and Complexity ....................... 18
Table 2.10 The Generic Structure and Its Function ............................................ 29
Table 2.11 Example of Hortatory Exposition Text ............................................. 31
Table 4.1 The Description of the Clauses Number of Students’ Texts ............... 41

vii

LIST OF FIGURES
Pages
Table 3.1 Miles and Huberman Components Data Analysis .............................. 37
Table 4.2 Graphic the Cluster for Thematic Progression Pattern ........................ 48

viii

LIST OF APPENDICES
Pages
Appendix A. Students’ Hortatory Exposition Text ............................................56
Appendix B. Division of Clauses of Students Text ............................................63
Appendix C. Analysis Theme and Rheme Structure ..........................................66
Appendix D. Analysis Thematic Progression Pattern .........................................70
Appendix E. Analysis the Misuse Theme-Rheme ........................................... .. 73

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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

A. The Backround of the Study
Writing is a process of constructing a message by using strategies and step
by step until it becomes a text (Hedge, 2002: 302). In writing, the writers have to
manage to fullfil the process well in order to produce a good writing. Good
writing is a writing that is easily understood by the reader and the content consists
of paragraphs that meet certain requirements and one of them is coherence
(McCrimmon, 2000: 54). He states that a paragraph is coherence when the reader
can move easily from one sentence to the next and read the paragraph as an
integrated whole, rather than a series of separate sentences.
Coherence is a product of many different factors, which combine to make
every paragraph, every sentence, and every phrase contribute to the meaning of
the whole piece. Coherence in writing is much more difficult to sustain than
coherent speech simply because writers have no nonverbal clues to inform them if
their message is clear or not. Therefore, writers must make their patterns of
coherence much more explicit and much more carefully planned and it can be
achieved through the operation of theme-rheme.
Theme-rheme movement represents how information is managed. Halliday
(2004: 256) states that theme is the point of departure for the representation of
information and rheme constitutes the information the writer wishes to impart
about the theme. These two elements are presented alternatively in a text to form a
connected text. While theme conveys information that is initially introduced in

1

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discourse, rheme present specific information regarding the theme. As this
movement continues, ideas in a text or discourse are expected to flow along
smoothly and are easier for the reader to understand.
Ping (2007: 15) states that the division of the clause into theme and rheme
makes it particularly helpful to show the development of theme and rheme
throughout the text. The theme and rheme of each clause can be compared with
the same of previous clauses to find out how they are related. The inter-clausal of
theme-rheme connections is also known as thematic progression.
Thematic progression is an exchange of information between successive
theme and rheme pairings in a text (Eggins, 2004: 318). Thematic progression
contributes to the cohesive development of a text. Thematic progression in order
to give students more grammatical resources to improve the coherence of their
writing, help them become aware of how information and ideas should flow in a
text so that it could be easily understood by the reader. In addition, students would
apprehend which thematic progression patterns are valued in English writing and
have the opportunities to apply this knowledge to improve their writing (Jing
2015).
Eggins (2004) states that there are three kinds of thematic progression
pattern: first, theme reiteration or constant theme pattern, a theme is picked up and
repeated at the beginning of each clause as. Second, a zig-zag or linear theme
pattern, the subject matter in the rheme of the previous clause is taken up in the
theme of a following clause. Third, a multiple theme or split rheme pattern, a

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rheme may include a number of different pieces of information, each of which
may be taken up as the theme in a number of subsequent clauses.
Based on the preliminary observation that had been done by the writer at
MAN 2 Model Medan, it was found that the students were still difficult in
organizing the messages in their paragraphs and the students could not develop
the next clause from the previous clause. As a result the students couldnot write
the paragraph coherently. This was because the language teacher in giving
correction to students’ writing was still focus on errors which occur such as lack
of subject-verb agreement, incorrect used of verb tenses, and so on. The teacher
never corrected the coherence in students’ writing so that the students did not
know whether their writing coherent or not.
The problems of coherence in student’s writing could be seen from the
following table.
Table 1.1 the Problems of Coherence in Student Hortatory Exposition Text
Student’s wriring
Case Saipul Jamil (LGBT)

The problems
In the second sentences, the word
“now” it doesn’t need to be used. It
This year become news hot make the clause doesn’t coherent
is LGBT. Now many teenagers do because
it
doesn’t
show
the LGBT. LGBT not only for maid development of the previous clause.
but for woman too. For example,
man with man, woman and woman, LGBT is an acronym for lesby, gay,
not only in teenager but in children bisexual and transgender. So the
and adult too.
sentences “LGBT not only for maid
One of LGBT case is our but for woman too. For example,
singer who name saipul jamil. He man with man, woman and
do LGBT with man still teenagers woman” it doesn’t need to be
not only for one time but he do for written and it must be replaced with
many times.
another sentence so that is easy to
I think LGBT is not good to develop the next clause.
do for teenagers so stop LGBT.
(Ranti: 2016)

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Based on the result of student’s writing, it could be seen that the students
were still difficult to write coherently. One of the ways can help to improve
coherence in students’ writing is by analyzing theme, rheme and thematic
progression. Thematic progression gives a reader orientation as to where the
information has come from and where it is going, and hence creates coherent in a
written text.
Thematic progression can be seen from the pattern of theme and rheme
used in students’ writing. The balance and movement of a clause between Theme
and Rheme is an essential component in composing a coherence text. If a writer
failed to control the flow of information from Theme to Rheme, his or her text
was difficult for a reader to follow, because there is no clear signpost directing the
reader, who therefore cannot easily follow the progression of an idea or argument.
Based on the problem above, the writer analyzed theme, rheme and
thematic progression particularly in hortatory exposition text.

B. The Problems of the Study
Based on the backround of the study, the problem of this study could be
formulated in the form of questions as follows:
1. What is the thematic progression pattern used by the students in writing
hortatory exposition text?
2. What does the misuse of theme and rheme occurred in writing hortatory
exposition text?

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C. The Objectives of the Study
In line with the problems, this sudy was intended to investigate:
1. The thematic progression pattern used by the students in writing hortatory
exposition text.
2. The misuse of theme and rheme occurred in students’ hortatory exposition text.

D. The Scope of the Study
This study investigated the theme, rheme and thematic progression
patterns in students’ hortatory exposition text. The aspects observed (theme
reiteration/constant theme pattern, zig-zag/linear theme pattern, and multiple
theme/ split Rheme pattern), and the misuse of theme and rheme occurs in
students’ hortatory exposition text.

E. The Significance of the Study
This study was expected to have both theoretical and practical
contributions.
1. Theoretically, the findings were expected to enrich the theories of thematic
progression in students’ hortatory exposition text.
2. Practically, the findings of this study were expected to be useful for:
a. The teachers: They can use it to support teaching and learning materials
related to the thematic progression.

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b. The students: They can enrich their knowledge about thematic progression.
c. The other researchers: This study is expected can be reference for those who
want to do further research on thematic progression.

CHAPTER V
CONCLUSSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
A. CONCLUSIONS
Based on the result of analysis, it could be concluded as follow:
1. There were two patterns of thematic progression used by the students in
hortatory exposition text. They were Theme reiteration/constant theme pattern
(TR/CTP), and zig-zag/linear theme pattern (Zig-zag/LTP).
2. There were two problems of misuse theme and rheme that occurred in students’
hortatory exposition text. They were problems of brand new theme and empty
rheme.

B. SUGGESTIONS
From the analysis about theme, rheme and thematic progression pattern
found in students’ hortatory exposition text,some suggestions were recommended
as follows:
1. The teacher can use it to support teaching and learning materials related to the
thematic progression
2. The students can enrich their knowledge about theme, rheme and the thematic
progression patterns in order to make a good writing or coherent paragraph.
3. The other researchers can use the result of this study as a reference to do further
research on thematic progression.

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