List of Figures

ix

List of Tables

xi

Preface

xxi

Acknowledgments

xliii

Chapter 1: The Problem

1

Introduction

1

Statement of the Problem

3

Significance of the Problem

5

Important Findings

7

Research Questions

8

Definition of the Terms

9

Basic Assumptions

10

Limitations

11

Chapter 2: Background Study

13

Introduction

13

First Language Article Acquisition Studies

15

Studies of L2 Acquisition Sequences in General

23

Second Language Article Acquisition Studies

27

Chapter 3: Procedures

37

Case Study Methodology

37

Informant

41

Anecdote to the Collection of the First Data

41

Data Collection

43

Recording Equipment

46