本书从动态系统理论的视角出发，采用历时个案研究和数据动态呈现的方法，从词汇、句法和语篇三个语言层面对某高校四位英语专业学生的英语日志进行变异分析，揭示二语写作能力发展的个体差异、非线性特征、具体难点以及词汇、句法和语篇关联增长的模式。本书对二语写作研究与教学进行了理论与实践探索，可以作为外语教师、学生和外语研究人员的参考书。

Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1 Research Orientation
1.2 Purpose and Significance of the Present Study
1.3 General Structure of the Book
Chapter 2 Literature Review
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Dynamic Systems Theory
2.2.1 Key Concepts in DST
2.2.2 Features of Dynamic Systems
2.2.3 Language as a Dynamic System
2.2.4 DST and SLD
2.2.5 DST and Emergentism
2.3 L2 Writing Development
2.3.1 Measurement of L2 Writing Development
2.3.2 Multiple Perspectives of L2 Writing Study
2.3.3 Core Issues of L2 Writing Study
2.3.4 Previous Studies on L2 Writing Development
2.4 Summary
Chapter 3 Research Design from DST Perspective
3.1 Introduction
3.2 General Research Methodologies
3.3 Study Design of Longitudinal Case Study
3.3.1 Data Collection
3.3.2 Data Description
3.3.3 Data Exploration
3.4 Methods of Variability Analysis
3.4.1 Growth Trajectory Plots
3.4.2 Moving Min-max Graph
3.4.3 De-trended Data Values (Residuals)
3.4.4 Moving Correlations
3.4.5 Moving Average
3.4,6 Moving Progmax-Regmin Graph
3.4.7 Change-Point Analysis
3.4.8 Monte Carlo Simulations
3.5 Summary
Chapter 4 Research Design of the Present Study
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Research Questions
4.3 Setting and Participants
4.4 Task and Procedure
4.5 Coding the Writing Data
4.6 Data Processing
4.7 Predictions
4.8 Summary
Chapter 5 Development of Vocabulary in L2 Writing
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Vocabulary and L2 Writing Quality
5.3 Measurement of Lexical Development
5.3.1 Measures of Lexical Complexity
5.3.2 Measures of Lexical Accuracy
5.4 Research Questions Revisited
5.5 Results: Data and Variability Analysis
5.5.1 Results of Lexical Complexity
5.5.2 Results of Lexical Accuracy
5.5.3 Interactions between Lexical Complexity andAccuracy
5.6 Change-Point Analysis in kexical Development
5.6.1 Change-Point Analysis of Lexical Complexity
5.6.2 Change-Point Analysis of Lexical Accuracy
5.7 Discussion
5.8 Summary
Chapter 6 Development of Syntax in L2 Writing
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Measurement of Syntactic Development
6.2.1 Measures of Syntactic Complexity
6.2.2 Measures of Syntactic Accuracy
6.3 Research Questions Revisited
6.4 Results: Data and Variability Analysis
6.4.1 Results of Syntactic Complexity
6.4.2 Results of Syntactic Accuracy
6.5 Interactions between Syntactic Complexity and Accuracy
6.6 Change-Point Analysis of Syntactic Development
6.6.1 Change-Point Analysis of Syntactic Complexity
6.6.2 Change-Point Analysis of Syntactic Accuracy
6.7 Discussion
6.8 Summary
Chapter 7 Development of Discourse in L2 Writing
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Discourse Competence in L2 Writing
7.3 Coherence in L2 Writing
7.4 Measurement of Coherence in Written Discourse
7.5 Research Questions Revisited
7.6 Results: Data and Variability Analysis
7.6.1 Inter-individual Variability
7.6.2 Intra-individual Variability
7.6.3 Interactions between Discourse Measures
7.7 Change-PointAnalysis of Discourse Coherence
7.7.1 Change-Point Analysis of Local Coherence
7.7.2 Change-Point Analysis of Global Coherence
7.8 Interactions between Measures of Different Linguistic Levels
7.8.1 Interactions between Discourse and Lexical Measures
7.8.2 Interactions between Discourse and Syntactic Measures
7.9 Discussion
7.10 Summary
Chapter 8 General Discussion and Conclusion
8.1 Summary and General Discussion
8.2 Implications
8.3 Limitations
8.4 Future Research
8.5 Final Remarks
Bibliography
Appendix I Samples of Journal Writing
Appendix II Samples of Reflections on Journal Writing