Modeling Discourse Topic: Sequential Relations and Strategies in Expository Text

Introduction BRINGING THE TOPIC UP: FACETS OF TOPIC Thematics: The State of the Art Topic as a Discrete Element Topic as a Structuring Frame The Need for a Model Topic as a Sequential Structure Summary TRACING THE TOPIC: SEQUENTIAL RELATIONS AND STRATEGIES The Problem of Topic as a Sequential Structure Strategies of Sequentiality Sequential Techniques in Expository Text The Signals of Topic Structure Summary MODELING SEQUENTIAL TOPIC The Patterning of Topic Structure Framing the Analysis Topic Structure Heuristics The Hierarchy and Synergy of Signals Text Boundaries THE TOPIC MODEL IN ACTION Texts in English English and Greek Texts in Contrast THE TOPIC MODEL IN PERSPECTIVE: TOWARD A MULTIPLANE DESCRIPTION OF DISCOURSE Text Organization and Sequential Relations The Interaction of Topic Structure with Other Text Relations The Multifunctionality of Topic Signals The Contribution of Topic Structure to Text Organization and Coherence ROUNDING THE TOPIC OFF: CONCLUSIONS The Modeling of Discourse Topic Connections and Implications Sequential Relations and Beyond Appendices Bibliography Index