The Role of Discourse Markers and Cohesive Devices in Writing: EFL Students a Case Study

The purpose of this study is to highlight the role of discourse markers and lexical cohesion in the coherence of English writing. The current study investigates and examines thirty articles written by intermediate students about why they learn English. Therefore, the study shows how discourse markers and lexical devices achieve written text cohesion experimentally. The study also clarifies the researchers' views about the definitions of discourse markers and why discourse markers can't be classified under a grammatical or lexical category. The differences between discourse markers' functions have been discussed in detail as well as the difference between grammatical cohesion and lexical cohesion as DMs play a significant and crucial roles in starting, directing and ending discourse. The study deals with how discourse markers and lexical devices function in the establishment of textual coherence from different perspectives.Keywords: Discourse Markers, Cohesive devices, EFL learners, Coherence, Written discourse