Polish and Ukrainian University Students’ Perspectives on Academic Writing: A Comparative Overview

Communication, both written and oral, as the key to academic and professional success has received much scholarly attention in the academic communities of Western Europe and North America. However, in the Eastern European educational scene, teaching academic communication, especially academic writing, in institutions of higher education has been largely neglected for a long time. This research attempts to look at academic writing practices at two universities in Ukraine and Poland from the students’ perspectives. The survey conducted among students pursuing master’s degrees in education and pedagogy at both universities aimed to reveal their attitudes, beliefs and opinions in three domains: cognitive, social and affective. The results lead to some important inferences: students’ exposure to academic writing is insufficient; the potential of writing as a learning tool is not fully understood; students’ awareness of academic integrity is rather low. The tendencies observed across institutions are mostly similar with occasional significant differences.

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Academic writing for Spanish scholars: exploring the challenges with argumentation analysis

10.29007/lrb9 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Samira Allani

Keyword(s):

Second Language ◽

Academic Writing ◽

Argumentative Discourse ◽

Systematic Analysis ◽

Academic Environments ◽

English Writing ◽

Academic Communities ◽

Writing Practices ◽

Argumentation Analysis ◽

Argumentative Strategies

The present study focuses on the academic discourse shaped by Spanish scholars publishing in English. Writing and publishing in the academia are regarded as central not only to the construction of knowledge in individual disciplines but also to the construction of the identities of scholars and the negotiation of their positions and voices within academic communities (Hyland 2013). Drawing upon the theoretical stances of argumentation theory and more particularly on Pragma-dialectics (van Eemeren & Grootendorst, 2004), the aim of this study is to explore the discursive practices of the Spanish scholars who engage in the academic “debates” of their respective communities using English as a second language. While the need for participation in English is increasing around the world, the experience of publishing in a second language has been widely identified as challenging (Hanauer & Englander, 2010; Moreno et al., 2012). The study uses the systematic method of Pragma-dialectics to examine sixty research articles from scientific and engineering disciplines and to determine how their authors discursively construct their work and how they make a case for their contributions. The analysis focuses on the authors ́ strategic maneuvering, which is the efforts arguers make in argumentative discourse to reconcile aiming for rhetorical effectiveness with maintaining dialectical standards of reasonableness (van Eemeren, 2010). Argumentative strategies highly underlie the reasoning patterns of individuals (Mercier & Sperber, 2011) and the way they position themselves and their claims within a given communicative situation. The systematic analysis of argumentative strategies attempts to shed some light on the writing practices of Spanish scholars and the stances they maintain within more and more demanding academic environments.

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Comparative Study of Highly Pathogenic Avian Infl uenza Strains Isolated in Ukraine in 2005 and 2008

Agricultural science and practice ◽

10.15407/agrisp1.01.068 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 68-71

Author(s):

A. Gerilovych ◽

B. Stegniy ◽

A. Stegniy ◽

M. Stegniy ◽

K. Smietanka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Western Europe ◽

Rna Extraction ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Molecular Characteristics ◽

Eastern European ◽

Highly Pathogenic ◽

Genetic Lineages ◽

Phylogenetic Studies ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Pathogenic H5n1

Objective. To research the molecular characteristics of two HPAI strains – A/Ch/Syvash/02/05/H5N1 and A/Ch/Krasnogvardeysk/58/08/H5N1, which were identifi ed as representatives of the highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses. Methods. RNA extraction, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results. The phylogenetic studies revealed that the above mentioned strains belong to two various genetic lineages originated from the Eastern European strains isolated in 2005, but differ from the viruses introduced to the Central and Western Europe in 2005/2006, and also the lineages consisting of H5N1 viruses isolated in the Europe and Middle East in late 2007. Conclusions. Relying on experimental studies, it can be concluded that the strains of A/Ch/Syvash/02/05/H5N1 and A/Ch/Krasnogvardeysk/58/08/H5N1 are highly pathogenic.

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Seeking transformation: how students in nursing view their academic writing context – a qualitative systematic review

International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship ◽

10.1515/ijnes-2020-0074 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Kim M. Mitchell ◽

Laurie Blanchard ◽

Tara Roberts

Keyword(s):

Nursing Education ◽

Identity Development ◽

Academic Writing ◽

Relationship Building ◽

Student Perspective ◽

Professional Identity Development ◽

Writing Assignments ◽

Writing Practices ◽

Qualitative Systematic Review ◽

Transformative Writing

AbstractWriting practices in nursing education programs are situated in a tension-filled context resulting from competing medical-technical and relational nursing discourses. The goal of this qualitative meta-study is to understand, from the student perspective, how the context for writing in nursing is constructed and the benefits of writing to nursing knowledge development. A literature search using the CINHAL, Medline, ERIC, and Academic Search complete databases, using systematic methods identified 21 papers and dissertations which gathered qualitative interview or survey data from students in nursing at the pre-registration, continuing education, and graduate levels. The studies provided evidence that writing assignments promote professional identity development but overemphasis on writing mechanics when grading have a deleterious effect on learning and student engagement with writing. Relationship building with faculty should extend beyond what is needed to maximize grades. Suggestions for writing pedagogical reform are identified to facilitate a change in focus from mechanical-technical to transformative writing.

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ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF EFFECTIVE ACADEMIC WRITING IN ENGLISH

The Medical and Ecological Problems ◽

10.31718/mep.2021.25.1-2.10 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 25 (1-2) ◽

pp. 41-43

Author(s):

Yu.V. Lysanets ◽

O.M. Bieliaieva ◽

L.B. Slipchenko ◽

K.H. Havrylieva ◽

H.Yu. Morokhovets

Keyword(s):

Academic Writing ◽

English Language ◽

Mother Tongue ◽

Poor Quality ◽

Professional Communication ◽

Academic Standards ◽

Medical Setting ◽

British Council ◽

Academic Communication ◽

English Academic Writing

The article discusses the features of academic writing in English based on the recommendations from the British Council in Ukraine in the framework of the “Researcher Connect” project, aiming to facilitate the transition to academic standards of English and improve the academic discourse produced by non-native language users. The authors outline major tendencies in the modern English language as pertains to written discourse and provide recommendations for rendering academic writing persuasive. It is a well-established fact that academic writing in English possesses unique features, which must be respected and taken into account. Hence, a transfer of academic norms from a person's mother tongue to English can be a challenge, which may impair the quality of academic writing. Presenting the research results without consideration of academic norms, grammar, and lexical features of English academic writing can lead to mistakes and misunderstanding, and result in a written work of poor quality, even if the research findings are valid. The mechanisms of improving the academic writing skills during the study of English for Academic Communication with due account for relevant grammar and lexical peculiarities have been explored. Therefore, the major challenge for researchers is the difficulty in transition to academic standards of a foreign language. The article discusses the surface and the deeper purposes in any academic writing; the significance of understanding one’s audience; the concepts of persuasion, clarity, and conciseness, as well as grammar and lexical means for achieving them. Developing the communication skills of Ukrainian scientists is crucial for successful international communication and cooperation. The study of potential difficulties, which the Ukrainian medical professionals may face in the process of academic writing in English, is important for developing the guidelines to eliminate possible mistakes and avoid misunderstanding in a medical setting. Further study of the peculiarities of academic writing in English will contribute to the optimization of international professional communication, the expansion of inter-institutional dialogue, and the integration of Ukraine into the world community.

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The State of Rural Sociology as Presented in Four Periodicals – Rural Sociology, Sociologia Ruralis, Journal of Rural Studies, Eastern European Countryside

Eastern European Countryside ◽

10.2478/eec-2013-0002 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 9-27 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Grzegorz Zabłocki

Keyword(s):

Eastern Europe ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Rural Population ◽

Western Europe ◽

World Wide ◽

Central And Eastern Europe ◽

Rural Sociology ◽

Eastern European ◽

Social Phenomena ◽

Rural Studies

Abstract This article is an analysis of differences and similarities between four Englishlanguage journals on rural sociology. The comparison covered topics discussed in about 600 articles published in the journals in the years 1995-2010 and the regional affiliation of their authors. In the comparison, all articles and texts on empirical research published in this period in Eastern European Countryside were considered. In total, 141 texts were published in this annual journal. Out of the three other journals (Rural Sociology, Sociologia Ruralis, Journal of Rural Studies) 50 articles for each of three periods: 1995-1996, 2002-2003, 2008-2009, were selected. Results of the comparison show that the journals have strictly regional profiles, and that present rural sociology does not seem to be the science on social phenomena in world-wide rural areas. Rural sociology used in the four studied journals does not develop the knowledge that would be useful in solving problems of the rural population. In the three journals under study (Rural Sociology, Sociologia Ruralis, Journal of Rural Studies) almost exclusively sociology of rural areas in Western Europe and Northern America was developed, and their contributors were almost always authors from the two regions. The fourth journal - Eastern European Countryside - was concerned, adequately to its title, with rural phenomena in Central and Eastern Europe

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EFFECT OF POLITICAL CHANGE TO THE CHANGE OF CORPORATE VALUES

Problems of Management in the 21st Century ◽

10.33225/pmc/15.10.18 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 18-25

Author(s):

Zoltán Kovács ◽

Emil Nyerki

Keyword(s):

Political Change ◽

Eastern European ◽

Corporate Values ◽

Service Companies ◽

Before And After ◽

Long Time ◽

Economical System ◽

Countries In Transition ◽

Eastern European Countries ◽

Privately Owned

Lean is the mainstream process improvement philosophy. It has a more or less standardized set of techniques, which are well known worldwide, however the application environments – mostly due to cultural differences – are rather diverse. Hungary has been on the way of political and economical transition since 1989. Following the first free election in 1990 there were several changes in the structure of production and service companies. Previously state-owned “giants” of industry died, others have been privately owned for a long time. The study examined the lean applications in different, mostly Central and Eastern European countries in transition based on literature review. They carried out an empirical research in Hungary. Original Hungarian companies which existed before 1990 were in the research focus, analysing their lean implementation and corporate values. The research found basic differences in the attitudes before and after the change of economical system, and providing information about the closed gap regarding corporate values of foreigner owned and Hungarian owned companies. Key words: corporate goals, transition economies, lean, political change, social values.

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Assurance on non-financial reporting: theoretical underpinning, standards and practices of companies operating in Western and Eastern Europe

Zeszyty Teoretyczne Rachunkowości ◽

10.5604/01.3001.0014.8350 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 45 (1) ◽

pp. 53-74

Author(s):

Joanna Krasodomska ◽

Paweł Zieniuk

Keyword(s):

Eastern Europe ◽

Financial Reporting ◽

Western Europe ◽

Information Assurance ◽

Financial Information ◽

Research Approach ◽

Eastern European ◽

Financial Reports ◽

Sustainability Disclosure ◽

Big Four

Objective: The paper presents the issue of non-financial information assurance and identifies the practices of companies operating in Europe in this regard. Methodology/research approach: The research is based on a literature review and analysis of a sample of 935 companies whose non-financial reports, prepared according to the GRI guidelines, are available from the GRI Sustainability Disclosure Database. In particular, we analyze how many companies had their non-financial information verified in 2017 and their previous practice in this regard (since 2005), as well as their structure according to the assuror type, the assurance standard used, the engagement type, and the assurance scope. Findings: Nearly half of the companies had their non-financial information independently and externally verified, including 34 Eastern European companies (30%) and 426 from Western Europe (52%). Most of the entities which provide assurance are so-called Big Four audit companies, mainly Deloitte and E&Y, which use the ISAE 3000 standard for this purpose. The most common engagement type is limited engagement. Limitations: The study is descriptive, which results from the nature of the data collected and the large disparity between companies using assurance in Western and Eastern Europe. Originality/value: The Article broadens accounting knowledge, in particular, on non-financial reporting. It indicates the need to take steps towards the wider use of non-financial information assurance in Eastern Europe.

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Research-based College English Blended Teaching of Fashion Major: A Case Study of Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology

International Journal of Contemporary Education ◽

10.11114/ijce.v3i2.4935 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 55

Author(s):

Weili Zi ◽

Yiling Zhou

Keyword(s):

Foreign Language ◽

Academic Writing ◽

Language Education ◽

College English ◽

Professional Field ◽

Communication Ability ◽

Research Ability ◽

Beijing Institute ◽

Academic Communication ◽

Blended Teaching

With the further development of “the reform and open”, and the strategically stable advancement of “going out”, there is increasingly demand for foreign language talents and foreign language education. Research-based College English Blended Teaching just adapts to the national demand for international fashion talents with the international vision and the ability to participate in the international competition, which also provides us with opportunity to integrate the information technology with subject teaching. With the A-level class of grade 2018 from Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology (BIFT) as the case, the blended teaching theory as the guidance, this research presents the way of practice in research-based college English blended teaching by making use of the instrumental features of college English with the aim of cultivating students' professional research ability and academic communication ability. The study shows that remarkable results have been achieved in research-based blended teaching after three-semester practice-students could independently deliver academic presentation and conduct research in English individually or collaboratively in the professional field. The practice and exploration of the efficiency in research-based College English blended teaching could enhance the ability of academic presentation and academic writing of fashion majors, and promote their academic achievements for high-quality international fashion talents. Therefore, research-based College English blended teaching, integrating English skills with professional knowledge, is proved to be definitely instructive, implicational and exemplary to reform college English teaching in fashion field.

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Steatoda nobilis, a false widow on the rise: a synthesis of past and current distribution trends

NeoBiota ◽

10.3897/neobiota.42.31582 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 42 ◽

pp. 19-43 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Tobias Bauer ◽

Stephan Feldmeier ◽

Henrik Krehenwinkel ◽

Carsten Wieczorrek ◽

Nils Reiser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Western Europe ◽

Ecological Niche Modeling ◽

Mediterranean Area ◽

Multiple Introductions ◽

Colonization Pressure ◽

Current Spread ◽

Suitable Climate ◽

Long Time ◽

Potential Habitats ◽

Northward Expansion

The Noble False Widow, Steatodanobilis (Thorell, 1875) (Araneae, Theridiidae), is, due to its relatively large size and potential medical importance, one of the most notable invasive spider species worldwide. Probably originating from the Canary Islands and Madeira, the species is well established in Western Europe and large parts of the Mediterranean area and has spread recently into California and South America, while Central European populations were not known until 2011. We report on long-time observations that reveal that at least two flourishing populations in Germany (Cologne) have been present for over five years, while in Ecuador one population has been observed between 2014 and 2018 and several other records were made in other parts of the country. Data obtained from the British Spider Recording Scheme demonstrate that the species moved significantly northwards since the report of the first populations in the very South of England, after several decades of relative stasis. The sudden northward expansion highly correlates with a massive rise in press coverage of the species. In the Americas, S.nobilis is currently known from four countries (USA, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia), and available DNA barcoding data obtained for specimens from this area suggest that multiple introductions occurred within each country. Using ecological niche modeling, we identified suitable climate regions for the species and discuss possible reasons for its current spread. We propose that seaside cities and villages with a temperate oceanic or Mediterranean climate are especially favourable potential habitats for S.nobilis and will face the highest colonization pressure in the future, while tropical upland regions with temperate climates are also vulnerable to invasion by S.nobilis.

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INFLUENCE OF FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT CLASSROOM TECHNIQUES (FACTs) ON STUDENT’S OUTCOMES IN CHEMISTRY AT SECONDARY SCHOOL

Journal of Baltic Science Education ◽

10.33225/jbse/20.19.36 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 36-49 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mária Babinčáková ◽

Mária Ganajová ◽

Ivana Sotáková ◽

Paweł Bernard

Keyword(s):

Secondary School ◽

Formative Assessment ◽

Cognitive Skills ◽

Western Europe ◽

Higher Order ◽

Educational Process ◽

Eastern European ◽

Classroom Techniques ◽

The Us ◽

Eastern European Countries

Assessment in many Central- and Eastern-European countries is dominated by summative assessment (SA). Simultaneously, researchers and educators from western Europe and the US proclaim the formative assessment (FA) as an important element of the educational process and advise including it into curricula and everyday teachers’ practice. The research presented herein reports an introduction of formative assessment classroom techniques (FACTs) during chemistry lessons at K7 level in Slovakia. In total 202 students participated in the research. They were divided randomly into a control (n=97) and an experimental (n=105) group, and the intervention covered 10 successive lessons. After the intervention, the student’s outcomes were compared using the test checking student’s knowledge and skills according to various domains of Bloom’s revised taxonomy. The results suggested a statistically significant increase in the score of the experimental group, and a detailed analysis revealed that the increase was significant in both lower- and higher-order cognitive skills area. Finally, the students’ reaction on the introduction of formative assessment was studied and showed their positive attitude towards the introduced method. Keywords: chemical education, formative assessment classroom techniques, higher-order cognitive skills, secondary school.

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