Thematic Progression in Christian Written Discourse in Nigeria

The study examines the thematic progression patterns in Christian tracts written in Nigeria. Tracts produced by the Redeemed Christian Church of God and Mountain of Fire Miracle Ministries are randomly sampled and all the sentences in the selected tracts are analyzed to show their Thematic Progression (TP) Patterns. The study shows that the Simple Linear and Constant TP patterns are prominent in this discourse. These patterns are associated with speech act functions such as representatives, expressives, directives and commissives, delineating both the field of discourse and the emphasis of the tracts written. The study concludes that a study of thematic progression patterns in Christian written discourse crystallizes the structure of the text and the intention of the writer, culminating in a clearer understanding of the discourse.