1。1 Background of the Study 1

1。2 Purpose and Significance of the Study 2

1。3 Overall structure of the Thesis 2

Chapter Two Literature Review 3

2。1 Theoretical Bases of Cooperative Learning 3

2。1。1 Theories of Social Interdependence 3

2。1。2 Motivational Theory 4

2。2 Overview of Cooperative Learning 5

2。2。1 Definition of Cooperative Learning 5

2。2。2 Development of Cooperative Learning 6

2。2。3 Elements of Cooperative Learning 6

2。3 Related Studies on Cooperative Learning 8

2。3。1 Related Studies on Cooperative Learning abroad 8

2。3。2 Related studies on Cooperative Learning at Home 9

Chapter Three Research Methodology 10

3。1 Participants 10

3。2 Instruments 10

3。2。1 Tests 10

3。2。2 Questionnaires 10

3。2。3 Interviews 11

3。3 Experiment Design 11

3。3。1 Preparation 11

3。3。2 Research Procedures 13

Chapter Four Data Collection and Analysis 16

4。1 Analysis of Questionnaires 16

4。1。1 Analysis of QuestionnaireⅠ 16

4。1。2 Analysis of QuestionnaireⅡ 17

4。2 Analysis of Pre-test and Post-test 18

4。3 Analysis of Interviews 19

Chapter Five Conclusion 22

5。1 Major Findings 22

5。2 Pedagogical Applications 22

5。3 Limitations of the Research 23

5。4 Recommendations for Future Research 23

References 25

Appendices 27

Appendix I Writing From优T尔K论M文L网wWw.YouERw.com 加QQ75201^8766 Tests 27

Appendix II Questionnaires 28

Chapter One Introduction

1。1 Background of the Study

With the trend of multi-polarity in policy and globalization in economy, as one of the largest developing countries in the world, China is confronted with great opportunities and challenges。 Out of the consideration of the technology evolution, the multilateral association with the world and the cross-cultural communication, the reforming of national English curriculum becomes an urgent task。 The 2011 National English Curriculum (shortened as NEC) points out that the English language learning has great effects on shaping comprehensive development of learners’ personalities, cultivating the cross-cultural awareness between Chinese and Western cultures and facilitating intelligence development of the teenagers。 

The ultimate goal of English curriculum is to prompt the learners’ comprehensively command of language skills, language knowledge, affection and attitudes, learning strategies and cultural consciousness。 As one of the language basic skills, writing plays an irreplaceable role both in reality and English Language Teaching (shortened as ELT)。 English writing is an effective way to reflect writer’s ideological and conversational capabilities, furthermore, one’s listening, speaking and reading skills can also be manifested in one’s written work to a certain extent (赵敏 2011)。 Compared with the version in 2001, the NEC attaches more importance to Cooperative Learning method in language learning。 Vince Lombardi (1998) attached much importance to the inpidual’s commitment to the group work, “This is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work and a civilization work。” What learners benefit from Cooperative Learning not only could be detected in the development of their integrated language proficiency and competence, but also in the progress of their cooperative awareness and acquisition of necessary skills。