Applying Systemic Functional Linguistic to Instruct Students in Criminal Law Exercises

Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), pioneered by Halliday, approaches language as a social semiotic system that serves communicative functions. Within SFL, Thematic Progression (TP) refers to how themes are developed across sentences to create coherence and cohesion in discourse. Structured argumentation and clarity are essential in legal education, particularly criminal law. At the People’s Police College II (PPC II), students studying criminal law must enhance their writing skills for exercises, reports, and legal analyses. This paper highlights the role of Thematic Progression in guiding students to write more structured and logical legal texts.

This paper explores the application of Thematic Progression in SFL as a pedagogical tool to enhance cadets’ case-solving and detailed case analysis skills at the PPC II in criminal law exercises. Thematic Progression, which involves the systematic development of themes within texts, plays a crucial role in structuring coherent and logical legal arguments. By analyzing different patterns of Thematic Progression, such as constant theme, linear theme, and split theme, students can improve their ability to construct well-organized legal discourse. This approach strengthens their comprehension of legal documents and aids in drafting clear and concise legal reports. The study provides practical guidelines for integrating Thematic Progression into criminal law exercises, fostering more effective communication skills among law enforcement cadets.