| Abstract | 第4-5页 |
| 摘要 | 第6-10页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第10-14页 |
| 1.1 Background of the Study | 第10-11页 |
| 1.2 Research Questions | 第11-12页 |
| 1.3 The Significance of the Study | 第12-13页 |
| 1.4 The Organization of the Thesis | 第13-14页 |
| Chapter Two Literature Review | 第14-31页 |
| 2.1 The Definition of Shell Nouns | 第14-16页 |
| 2.2 The Classification of Shell Nouns | 第16-19页 |
| 2.3 Terms Similar to Shell Nouns | 第19-22页 |
| 2.4 Previous Studies of Shell Nouns | 第22-31页 |
| 2.4.1 Previous Studies of the Textual Function of Shell Nouns | 第22-25页 |
| 2.4.2 Previous Studies of the Semantic Function of Shell Nouns | 第25-27页 |
| 2.4.3 Previous Studies of Integrated Functions of Shell Nouns | 第27-28页 |
| 2.4.4 Previous Studies of Shell Nouns from Other Perspectives | 第28-30页 |
| 2.4.5 Summary | 第30-31页 |
| Chapter Three Theoretical Framework | 第31-44页 |
| 3.1 Construction Grammar | 第31-36页 |
| 3.1.1 The Concept of Construction | 第32-33页 |
| 3.1.2 The Forms and Meanings of Verbs and Basic Clause Constructions | 第33-35页 |
| 3.1.3 The Interactions between Verbs and Basic Clause Constructions | 第35-36页 |
| 3.2 The Shell-content Construction | 第36-44页 |
| 3.2.1 The Forms and Meanings of Shell Nouns and Clause Constructions | 第37-40页 |
| 3.2.2 The Semantic Compatibility of Shell Nouns and Clause Constructions | 第40-41页 |
| 3.2.3 The Interactions between Shell Nouns and Clause Constructions | 第41-44页 |
| Chapter Four Research Methodology | 第44-49页 |
| 4.1 Data Source | 第44-45页 |
| 4.2 Data Retrieval | 第45-46页 |
| 4.3 Research Procedures | 第46-49页 |
| Chapter Five Results and Discussion | 第49-89页 |
| 5.1 The Clause Constructions’ Attraction to Shell Nouns | 第49-60页 |
| 5.1.1 The Attraction in N that-clause Construction | 第49-52页 |
| 5.1.2 The Attraction in N be that-clause Construction | 第52-54页 |
| 5.1.3 The Attraction in N to-infinitive Construction | 第54-57页 |
| 5.1.4 The Attraction in N be to-infinitive Construction | 第57-60页 |
| 5.2 The Shell Nouns’ Reliance on the Clause Constructions | 第60-70页 |
| 5.2.1 The Reliance of“Fact”on the Clause Constructions | 第60-63页 |
| 5.2.2 The Reliance of“Idea”on the Clause Constructions | 第63-66页 |
| 5.2.3 The Reliance of“Right”on the Clause Constructions | 第66-68页 |
| 5.2.4 The Reliance of“Way”on the Clause Constructions | 第68-70页 |
| 5.3 The Differences and Similarities of Shell Noun Uses | 第70-89页 |
| 5.3.1 The Differences in Semantic Compatibility of the Constructions | 第70-73页 |
| 5.3.2 The Differences in Semantic Ranges of the Constructions | 第73-84页 |
| 5.3.3 The Differences in Emergent Meanings of the Interactions | 第84-87页 |
| 5.3.4 The Similarities in the Frame of Argumentative Essays Writing | 第87页 |
| 5.3.5 The Similarities in Categories of Shell Nouns in the Constructions | 第87-88页 |
| 5.3.6 The Similarities in the Reliance of Shell Nouns on the Constructions | 第88-89页 |
| Chapter Six Conclusion | 第89-92页 |
| 6.1 Major Research Findings of the Study | 第89-90页 |
| 6.2 Implications of the Study | 第90-91页 |
| 6.3 Limitations of this Study and Suggestions for Future Research | 第91-92页 |
| References | 第92-97页 |
| Appendix | 第97-104页 |
| Acknowledgements | 第104页 |
