Merging and splitting of chains add to the complexity of the referential chain. When a chain splits, the information content of the referent is usually carried on in two or more chains, while the reader has to keep the original referent in mind for the comprehension of the text. Merging is even more complex in that it requires the reader either to produce a summary of the previous text, or to select the relevant referents from various preceding text segments. These processes are much more complex than a simple recall of a previous item. This complexity is expected to be reflected in a greater number of errors in student writing.

 

 

The other section that is dense in splitting and merging chains is the presentation of the Findings of the paper. This is not surprising. This section is where new information is related to previous findings, to the background, to the methods used to arrive at those findings, and also, how the various outcomes are related to each other.