| Chapter One Introduction | 第1-11页 |
| Chapter Two Literature Review | 第11-26页 |
| ·Functional Sentence Perspective | 第11-17页 |
| ·Communicative Dynamism | 第11-13页 |
| ·Prosodic Factor | 第13-14页 |
| ·Non-prosodic Factors | 第14-17页 |
| ·Linear Modification | 第14页 |
| ·Contextual Factor | 第14-16页 |
| ·Semantic Factor | 第16-17页 |
| ·Theme | 第17-22页 |
| ·Theme and Rheme Structure | 第18-19页 |
| ·Scope of Theme | 第19-20页 |
| ·Classification of Theme | 第20-21页 |
| ·Function of Theme | 第21-22页 |
| ·Thematic Progression | 第22-26页 |
| ·Definition of Thematic Progression | 第22页 |
| ·Textual Function of Patterns of Thematic Progression | 第22-23页 |
| ·Patterns of Thematic Progression | 第23-26页 |
| ·Danes’Concept of Patterns of Thematic Progression | 第23-24页 |
| ·Zhu Yongsheng’s Concept of Patterns of Thematic Progression | 第24-25页 |
| ·Other Scholars’Study Concerning Patterns of Thematic Progression | 第25-26页 |
| Chapter Three Methodology | 第26-29页 |
| ·Research Objectives | 第26-27页 |
| ·Research Subjects | 第27页 |
| ·Procedure | 第27-29页 |
| Chapter Four Results and Discussions | 第29-48页 |
| ·Analysis of American Students’Composition | 第29-40页 |
| ·Analysis of Chinese Students’Composition | 第40-43页 |
| ·Comparison between Chinese and American Students’Compositions | 第43页 |
| ·Result of the Difference in Thematic Variation | 第43-46页 |
| ·Difference in Frequency of the Pattern of Thematic Progression | 第43-45页 |
| ·Difference in the Application of Multiple Theme | 第45页 |
| ·Difference in the Application of Marked Theme | 第45-46页 |
| ·Result of the Logical Connection of Themes | 第46-48页 |
| ·The Degree of Connection between Themes | 第46-47页 |
| ·The Connection of Themes over Sentences | 第47-48页 |
| Chapter Five Conclusion | 第48-51页 |
| ·Major Findings | 第48-49页 |
| ·Implications for the Teaching of English Composition | 第49-50页 |
| ·Limitations and Areas for Further Study | 第50-51页 |
| Bibliography | 第51-52页 |
