In ESL writing, a controversy has existed on whether or not an assignment plays an important role when students produce their writings. Plausible arguments have been also made on the matter of amount of information given in a writing assignment. But so far, there have been no convincing data to show a favor of either side in any case.This study is designed to examine the importance of assignment and the relationship between information load and the quality of ESL student writings by analyzing compositions written by ESL students. For the collection of data, 150 students who were randomly selected from two Korean universities. They were asked to write an essay in response to three different types of writing assignments in information load and topic kind.The data were analyzed by two well trained ESL teachers with the method of holistic evaluation. The data were evaluated in nine areas of quality with a binary scale (Yes and No) and in general quality with a 1 to 6 scale. The result of data evaluation was analyzed statistically using SPSS-X. Cross tabulations were used to check for relationship between information load and general impression score, between information load and binary question scores, and between binary question scores and general impression scores. Regression techniques were used to characterize the significant relationships. In performing all calculations, a paper's score will be the sum of the individual graders' scores.The results of data analysis demonstrate that ESL students prefer a subjective topic despite the level of information load. Nevertheless, their preference is not directly related to the quality of their writings. ESL students produce higher quality of writings as they are given less information. Finally, the importance of an assignment in ESL writing classes is supported by the marking of students' higher scores in dichotomous questions.The study also discusses problems and causes of difficulties, in Korean ESL, for utilizing the method of writing education as a means of teaching the English language. The study also points out the importance of a teacher training program and suggests variables which should be considered for producing a better quality teacher training program in the Korean ESL situation. / Department of English

The purpose of the present study was to investigate consumer knowledge and attitudes toward consumer education of college students in secondary teacher education preparatory programs in Korea. Specifically, this study was aimed to 1) measure the degree of consumer knowledge of college students in secondary teacher education preparatory programs, 2) assess the influences of socio-demographic variables such as academic level, academic major, sex, total family income, urban/rural background, and previous coursework in consumer economics on consumer knowledge, 3) evaluate attitudes of college students in secondary teacher education preparatory programs in Korea toward consumer education, 4) assess the influences of socio-demographic variables on attitudes toward consumer education, 5) examine the relationship between the degree of total consumer knowledge and attitudes toward consumer education when other socio-demographic variables are controlled. The sample was 388 freshmen and seniors in secondary teacher education preparatory programs, with majors in home economics, social studies, and business education, in the five randomly selected colleges in Korea. They were tested during May, 1991. The mean score for consumer knowledge was 30.18 which represented 75.4 percent correct. The relationships between consumer knowledge and selected socio-demographic variables were investigated using a one-way ANOVA. The results were as follow: 1) The degree of total consumer knowledge differed significantly by academic level, 2) The degree of total consumer knowledge and knowledge of the subarea of economic principles, consumer advocacy and buying practices differed significantly by academic major, 3) Only the degree of knowledge of the sub-area of buying practices differed significantly by sex, 4) There was no significant difference in the degree of total consumer knowledge and any sub-areas of consumer knowledge by total family income, 5) The degree of total consumer knowledge and knowledge of the sub-area of economic principles differed significantly by urban/rural background, 6) There was no significant difference in the degree of total consumer knowledge and any sub-areas of consumer knowledge by previous coursework in consumer economics. The mean score of attitudes toward consumer education was 2.94 on a scale of 1 to 4. The relationships of attitudes toward consumer education and socio-demographic variables were examined using a one-way ANOVA. Attitudes toward consumer education differed significantly only by previous coursework in consumer economics. To examine the relationship between the degree of total consumer knowledge and attitudes toward consumer education when other socio-demographic variables are controlled, a stepwise multiple regression anaysis was used. There was a significant positive relationship between consumer knowledge and attitudes toward consumer education. The results indicated that students majoring in home economics, female students, students who have taken consumer economics coursework, and students who have a higher degree of consumer knowledge have more favorable attitudes toward consumer education. / Graduation date: 1992