Collectivism and Individualism as Cultural Aspects in Arabic/English Argumentative Writing by Moroccan Students

Abstract

The present study analysed cultural dimensions in the argumentative writing of Moroccan students at Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra. It aimed at tracing features of collectivism and individualism such as personal disclosure (employment of first person singular pronouns and personal anecdotes) and collective self (employment of first personal plural pronouns and statements of collective virtues) in Arabic and English argumentative essays by Moroccan master students at the Department of English. Also, the study sought to trace any potential transfer of cultural features across the students’ essays. To achieve such a purpose, the study opted for textual analysis, using within-subject analysis and between-subject analysis to compare and contrast the argumentative essays of the same individuals. The collected data was described and analysed using frequency counts of individualist and collectivist features in the students’ writing. The results revealed the prevalence of collective self elements manifested in the high proportion of first personal plural pronouns and statements of collective virtues employed, especially in Arabic essays. In addition, collective virtues was the most prevalent cultural feature in Arabic essays, and combination of collective virtues and first person singular were the most dominant cultural features in English essays.