Department of German

Heidi Byrnes' current research focuses on analysis of students’ writing development across the curricular level using the theoretical framework of systemic-functional linguistics. Based on data gathered at the end of four of the five curricular levels of the German Department's integrated genre-oriented and task-based curriculum, this research provides the first extended look at writing development in a foreign language at the college level, crosssectionally and longitudinally. In addition, she continues to explore the assessment of writing and speaking abilities of advanced instructed learners within a programmatic setting.