Enhancing ESP Postgraduates’ Academic Writing Skills via Free Writing Techniques

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Abegglen ◽  
Sandra Sinfield ◽  
Tom Burns

The present paper builds on Elbow’s (1998) idea of ‘free writing’ to explore methods to foster academic writing skills. Rather than focusing on a deficit student in need of ‘fixing’, we embed ‘free writing exercises’ within classroom practice so that all students develop a critical writing habit. The aim of this paper is to explore how we enable students to find an academic ‘voice’ as we support them on the way to becoming successful academic writers. In this context, we argue for academic/study skills modules/strategic interventions that respect ‘hard to reach’ students as we build on their existing strengths and knowledge – and develop their writing skills.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 381-402
Author(s):  
Åsa Mickwitz ◽  
Marja Suojala

Abstract High self-efficacy beliefs and effective self-regulatory strategies are increasingly important in academic settings, and especially in developing academic writing skills. This article deals with how students develop academic writing skills in two different pedagogical settings (as autonomous learners and in a traditional learning environment), and how this is associated with the students’ self-regulatory strategies and self-efficacy beliefs. In the study, self-regulatory skills referred to the ability to take charge of, manage and organize the learning process, while self-efficacy beliefs were defined as the strength of students’ confidence to accomplish an extensive task and sense of succeeding. The method was quantitative, including some qualitative elements, and data was elicited through a survey answered by 150 students, after they had attended courses in academic writing. The survey consisted of 1 open-ended question and 16 multiple-choice questions (a five-point Likert scale). The data was analyzed using SPSS. The results show that self-regulatory skills and self-efficacy beliefs have a greater impact on learning academic writing skills in traditional learning settings than in learning settings where the students are supposed to work more independently, and where teacher support is not available to the same extent.


2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Mayumi Kobayakawa

A quantitative comparative analysis of writing tasks in English I, II, and Writing textbooks was conducted in this study. Writing tasks in the textbooks were classified into four categories: controlled writing, guided writing, translation, and free writing; and 14 subcategories. The results of the analysis show that both English I and II textbooks featured mostly controlled writing tasks and fill-in-the-blank with translation tasks, while Writing textbooks included various translation and controlled writing tasks. Overall, guided writing and free writing tasks rarely appeared in the textbooks analyzed. According to the Japanese government’s (MEXT) course of study, writing instruction is generally related to free writing tasks. Therefore, free writing skills are necessary to develop students’ practical communication abilities as defined by MEXT. These findings suggest that teachers need to support the development of practical communication abilities by proactively increasing the free writing activities in English classes. 高等学校英語教科書における「書くこと」の課題比較分析:英語Ⅰ・Ⅱ、ライティングについて 本研究では、英語Ⅰ・Ⅱ、ライティング教科書における「書くこと」の課題の量的比較分析を行った。分類方法としては、教科書の書く活動を制限作文、誘導作文、和文英訳、自由英作文の4つに大別し、さらにこれらの活動を14種類の課題に分類した。分析結果によると、英語Ⅰ・Ⅱ教科書では制限作文や日本文を見て一文埋める問題、ライティング教科書では和文英訳や制限作文の課題が多く設定されていた。全体的な特徴として、誘導作文と自由英作文の課題の占める割合は少なかった。「書くこと」に関する学習指導要領の記述内容は主に自由英作文の課題と関連していることから、文部科学省が定義する「実践的コミュニケーション能力」を育成するためには、自由英作文を書く技能が必要である。したがって、英語授業における書く活動では、自由英作文を書く機会を積極的に増やすことにより、「実践的コミュニケーション能力」の育成を支援する必要があると示唆される。


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ammar Mohammed Ahmed Mudawy

The study aims at suggesting effective methods and techniques that could improve English as a foreign language EFL students’ performance in writing skills. The researcher uses the descriptive, analytical method. Four tools were adopted pretest, post-test, supporting program, and a questionnaire for teachers for collecting data. Twenty-five students in Holy Quran University, Sudan, were chosen purposively, and thirty EFL teachers at a university level were randomly selected as a sample for the study. Ninty percent of the teachers agree on the suggested program and techniques. The findings of the study indicate that: using varied techniques and activities in pre-writing stage promotes students’ performances in writing, integration of reading and writing skills in the classroom improves students’ writing skills, as well as encouraging extensive reading outside the classroom promotes students’ performance in writing skills. Accordingly, the researcher recommends that: teachers should focus on the prewriting stage through different activities as well as reading and writing should be used in an integrated way in-class writing to guide the writing process.


Author(s):  
Henk Van Der Molen ◽  
Henk Schmidt ◽  
Eveline Osseweijer ◽  
Estella Van Der Wal ◽  
Marike Polak ◽  
...  

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