Magister Educationis - MEd / The purpose of this study is to gain an understanding of current writing practices in the intermediate phase at a multilingual primary school on the Cape Flats and then to explore the possible benefits of a genre-based approach in this context. The study focused on the development of learners' writing skills in two Grade Six English classes. The aims of this study are to understand the writing curriculum plan and as practiced by two teachers with different levels of exposure to current approaches to the teaching of writing and different class profiles. / South Africa

It is well established that good writing derives from writers who understand the writing process. However, while the National Curriculum of England explicitly states that teachers should incorporate important parts of the writing process, such as drafting, revising and proof-reading, in their teaching, the Swedish national curriculum does not. The aim of the study was to investigate how reflective learning affects Swedish students' writing skills in an ESL setting. More specifically, it investigates how the implementation of drafting and redrafting in a writing project affects the quality of texts as well as students’ perception of working reflectively. To be able to evaluate these variables, the students’ first and final drafts were analyzed in order to find out how much the students had improved and in which linguistic areas out of grammar, formality, cohesion and structure. The students were also asked to write a reflective text about their opinion of the writing project. The data was then categorized and later analyzed by using Kolb’s experiential learning cycle and the GLL model. The results showed an insignificant change regarding the students’ grades and quality of text. However, most students were positive about the working process. These results suggest that reflective learning could have many benefits for Swedish students’ writing skills and students seem to find the working process helpful. However, more research is needed in order to further evaluate the impact reflective learning can have on students’ writing skills.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty Of Education in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master Of Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instructional Studies at the University Of Zululand, 2018 / The teaching of English First Additional Language in South African schools, towards the development of learners’ writing skills, requires the employment of the process approach (DBE 2011: 10). The Department of Basic Education (DBE) clarifies that when learners write, they will need to use the writing process approach so as to produce coherent sentences without grammatical errors (2011: 36). The aim of this study is to compare and contrast the relative effectiveness of the process approach, product approach and the combination of these two approaches known as the process-product approach, in the development of English First Additional Language (FAL) writing skills in the Senior Phase. Three groups of Grade 8 and 9 English FAL learners, comprising of a sample of 186 learners from Quintile 3 schools in uMhlathuze Circuit Management under King Cetshwayo District were investigated so as to find out if they would develop good paragraph writing skills when exposed to several instructional interventions using any of the three approaches. The analysis of results is based on the Quasi-Experimental design which follows the pre-test-treatment-posttest model using the mixed methodology. It assumes the multi-method strategy as quan+QUAL (the lower case quan- explains the lower priority of the quantitative orientation). Consequently, the quantitative results are used to confirm the qualitative results. Findings of this study proved that when both the process and product approaches are combined and used recursively, and in a complementary manner as the process-product approach, they significantly yield higher results in developing the paragraph writing skills of English FAL learners in the Senior Phase than when each approach is used exclusively.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Education in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instructional Studies at the University Of Zululand, 2017 / This study is aimed at investigating whether or not the use of the reading-response journal as a strategy can yield any positive results in enhancing development of writing skills among learners. The study was conducted as a case study in one of the Further Education and Training (FET) phase schools under uThungulu district, within the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal in South Africa. It included verification of the FET phase learners’ level of competency in writing skills. This was done through interviewing the English First Additional Language (FAL) teacher of the target class in the FET phase. The study targeted English FAL grade eleven learners since journal writing is part of their curriculum. The sample of thirty learners was conveniently selected. The qualitative method was employed for the collection of data; task-based activities and interviews were used as instruments for data collection. This study is underpinned by the reader-response theory and it sought to; (a) find out the views of learners on the use of the reading-response journal writing as a strategy to develop writing skills, (b) to determine the learners’ views on the intervention programme of the reading-response journals in the development of writing skills and (c) the experiences of English FAL learners as participants in the activities of journal writing. Learners were given three different tasks which required them to write essays. The findings revealed that learners are generally resistant to reading and writing. The learners also lament that it takes too long before the educator can bring back feedback on their written tasks, that demotivates them. The findings also revealed that some teachers regard the teaching of writing skills as an optional task to do, yet it is prescribed in the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) document of English FAL in the FET phase. In addition, there is resistance from teachers to use innovative methods of developing writing skills such as journal writing and diary entries, among others. Lastly, the learners showed significant improvement in their writing skills as they participated in the intervention programme. There was significant improvement in their individual performance from task one, to task two and task three. Finally, the study recommended that the Department of Basic Education officials should consider reviewing the pupil-teacher ratio for language teachers so that they can do justice to the teaching of all language aspects including writing skills. Further research on other types of journal writing was also recommended.

No / Nursing Lecturer, Catherine Kelsey, reflects on developing her Celebrating Nursing Practice project.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / Neste trabalho, investigamos a questÃo do ensino da produÃÃo do texto escrito na formaÃÃo, em nÃvel superior, do professor de LÃngua Materna e realizamos um diagnÃstico da formaÃÃo que o acadÃmico do Curso de Letras da Universidade Federal do Cearà recebe sobre o processo de ensinar a escrita. A pesquisa se situa no campo teÃrico da LinguÃstica Aplicada, na perspectiva sociointeracionista, embasada principalmente nos pressupostos teÃricos de Bakhtin e Vygotsky e nos diversos estudiosos brasileiros que seguem essa vertente. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativo-interpretativa. Aplicamos questionÃrios em duas turmas da disciplina EstÃgio em Ensino da Linguagem Oral e da Linguagem Escrita da UFC e observamos alunos durante a regÃncia de aulas na disciplina EstÃgio em Ensino de LÃngua Portuguesa, no ano letivo de 2012. Analisamos tambÃm os documentos oficiais que norteiam o currÃculo do curso de Letras/HabilitaÃÃo LÃngua Portuguesa da Universidade Federal do CearÃ: o Projeto PolÃtico PedagÃgico, matriz curricular, ementas e planos de disciplina a fim de traÃarmos o perfil teÃrico-metodolÃgico dessa licenciatura â seus objetivos, missÃo, bases epistemolÃgicas e pedagÃgicas etc. Por meio de aplicaÃÃo de questionÃrios, de gravaÃÃes em Ãudio e vÃdeo e de anotaÃÃes feitas em fichas de observaÃÃo, analisamos as discussÃes teÃricas sobre o tema, as atividades prÃticas realizadas (dentre elas o EstÃgio Supervisionado), diagnosticando a(s) concepÃÃo (Ães) de ensino de LM e de escrita que ficou evidenciada. Os resultados das anÃlises dos documentos norteadores do curso de Letras demonstram que hà uma dissonÃncia entre a formaÃÃo idealizada nos documentos e a formaÃÃo real oferecida no curso. AlÃm do mais, pelas respostas dadas aos questionÃrios, evidenciamos que hà uma influÃncia tÃmida das teorias linguÃsticas sobre o processo observado, especificamente dos representantes da perspectiva sociointeracionista da escrita, como Bakhtin e Vygotsky, uma vez que nÃo se trabalha diretamente com essas fontes teÃricas, mas somente suas releituras, alÃm de que, conforme as respostas dadas, as discussÃes e abordagens sobre os aspectos da interaÃÃo e das concepÃÃes de escrita ocorrem de forma superficial e fragmentada. AtravÃs das observaÃÃes e registros das aulas constatamos que os professores em formaÃÃo ainda ancoram suas aulas de produÃÃo escrita na concepÃÃo de ensino que privilegia as tipologias tradicionais e a concepÃÃo de escrita como consequÃncia, visto que a tipologia dos textos trabalhados limita-se à narraÃÃo, descriÃÃo e dissertaÃÃo, e as atividades prÃvias realizadas durante as aulas do estÃgio supervisionado sÃo meramente pretextos para se escrever e resultam em uma escrita coletiva, para um Ãnico interlocutor, o docente. / This study investigates the teaching of writing skills in the Portuguese as a Native Language Teaching Certificate Program at the Federal University of Cearà (UFC). The study aims at diagnosing how the skills of teaching to write are developed in this program. This quali-quantitative study relates to the field of Applied Linguistics and is supported by the principles of the socio-interactionist approach and by the theories of Bakhtin and Vygotsky and of some Brazilian researchers who adopted these theories and approach. Questionnaires were administered to two groups of students taking the course âTeaching Oral and Written Skillsâ and to two teachers who taught this course at UFC. Student teachers were also observed while teaching classes in Portuguese as a native language in schools in 2012. Official documents, such as the curriculum of the Program and the syllabi of some of the courses, were also analyzed, with special attention to the description of the courses, their content and bibliography. The purpose of this analysis was to identify the theoretical-methodological principles that were used as foundations for the Program â its goals, mission, theoretical and pedagogical bases. The answers to the questionnaires, the audio and video recordings of the classes as well as the notes taken during the observation of these classes enabled this researcher to analyze the theoretical discussions on general writing themes and the activities undertaken in the courses and performed by the student teachers while teaching classes in schools. These data were used to diagnose the concepts of teaching writing which underlie the curriculum and pedagogical practices developed in the Program. The analysis of the official documents of the Program points out certain discrepancies between the idealized goals of the Program and the training provided to the student teachers. The answers given in the questionnaires highlighted the little influence that the theories that support the Program and the courses had on what is actually done in the courses. There is no straight connection between these theories and the practice in the classrooms. For example, Bakhtin and Vygotsky are not read in their original sources, and the discussions on the interactional approaches to writing are superficial and fragmented. The observations of the classes demonstrated that the student teachers still adhered to pedagogical practices based on traditional concepts of writing in which writing was understood as a result, and the types of texts worked on were limited to the traditional narrative, descriptive and argumentative genres. Moreover, the writing activities developed in the student teachersâ classes resulted in group writing to one and only specific reader â the teacher.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)

Academic writing programs are one way universities seek to increase the academic achievement of first-year students and decrease attrition. This paper examines data from an evaluation of a first-year academic writing program at Canadian Mennonite University. The original program evaluation was conducted to determine student attitudes toward the program and whether the academic writing lab program increased students’ writing abilities. This thesis goes further by examining relationships between affective outcomes (motivation, self-regulatory ability, perceived writing ability), writing ability, and cumulative grade point average. Data was collected using student surveys and writing samples. The results indicated that academic attainment was positively correlated with: writing ability, motivation, and self-regulation. Motivation and self-regulation, but not perceived writing ability, correlated with actual writing ability. Participation in the Academic Writing Lab did not affect student affective characteristics. However, student writing ability did improve which indicates that even a small program can improve students’ writing skills. / October 2016

This study focuses on developing teaching strategies for teachers who teach in classes for students identified as Gifted and Talented with Special Learning Disabilities situated in Israeli secondary schools. The focus is on the challenges teachers meet while teaching Humanities Subjects (HS) to these students and the strategies they need in addressing their dual exceptionalities. The main purpose of this study is to examine how specific strategies may contribute towards both to quality of teaching and to a better learning environment. Research has shown that gifted students who are diagnosed with learning disabilities in writing skills (2ELs) have difficulties especially in HS and achieve less academically than may suggest their high abilities. The combination of giftedness with learning disabilities and underachievement creates special challenges for their teachers to counter, and for which they need specific Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes. In my study, I developed a model of teaching strategies which combines three strategies from the field of teaching gifted students and from the field of special education which are helpful in the humanities disciplines. I created a manual for teachers' CPD that includes this model and I conducted a seminar using this manual for the participant teachers in my research. This was followed by an implementation of the manual by these teachers in their classrooms that includes 2ELs. My qualitative research was based on the case studies of two teachers teaching HS in two high school classrooms, totalling sixty 2ELs. The information was collected through observations, interviews, and open questionnaires. I then analysed the information using an inductive approach as pattern recognition and inclusion into categories. The research findings of this study describe the difficulties that teachers may face with 2ELs and my claim to knowledge is the AAA Model of Strategies and the manual for teachers and their contribution to teachers of 2Els and their students. The recent research fills this particular gap in the literature, in the Israeli context, and the findings of this study bear policy implications and indicate the need for the tailoring of relevant teachers’ CPD' programmes to include strategies to better address the needs of 2ELs for optimal success in fulfilling their potential and overcoming their difficulties. Future research may achieve a deeper understanding of how to prepare teachers to use adjusted strategies that meet 2Els teachers in various disciplines in order to improve learning environment.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Ler e escrever sÃo duas aprendizagens essenciais numa sociedade baseada no conhecimento, e um cidadÃo que nÃo tenha o domÃnio dessas duas competÃncias và comprometido seu sucesso escolar e suas possibilidades de inclusÃo social. Este trabalho objetiva, entÃo, contribuir com o ensino e a aprendizagem da produÃÃo escrita de alunos do 9 ano do Ensino Fundamental de uma escola pÃblica municipal de Fortaleza-CE, por meio da produÃÃo de textos autobiogrÃficos. à concebida uma sequÃncia didÃtica, baseada na proposta de Dolz, Noverraz e Schneuwly (2004), como recurso metodolÃgico para verificar o desempenho dos alunos nos textos escritos assim como para comprovar a eficiÃncia de tal procedimento como proposta de ensino da produÃÃo textual. Para desenvolver a competÃncia dos alunos na produÃÃo de textos, sobretudo os escritos, seguem-se, ainda, as orientaÃÃes dos ParÃmetros Curriculares Nacionais de LÃngua Portuguesa, que norteiam o trabalho com gÃneros textuais em sala de aula e certificam que à necessÃrio contemplar a diversidade de textos e gÃneros, nÃo apenas por sua relevÃncia social, mas tambÃm porque textos pertencentes a diferentes gÃneros sÃo organizados de diferentes formas. Nessa perspectiva, trabalha-se a produÃÃo escrita na abordagem processual segundo Vieira (2005), intencionando valorizar a identidade dos alunos e ressaltar a sua importÃncia como indivÃduos participativos e crÃticos na sociedade em que vivem. A anÃlise dos dados possibilita a constataÃÃo de progressos significativos nos textos produzidos apÃs a aplicaÃÃo da sequÃncia didÃtica e comprova a eficÃcia de tal procedimento como proposta de intervenÃÃo para o ensino da produÃÃo de textos no 9 ano do Ensino Fundamental. Permite, ainda, aos professores uma grande satisfaÃÃo em constatar o desenvolvimento dos alunos, alÃm de tambÃm proporcionar a esses estudantes uma visÃvel sensaÃÃo de bem-estar diante do progresso alcanÃado nas suas produÃÃes textuais. Em sÃntese, este trabalho se propÃe a investir na melhoria das prÃticas de leitura e escrita dos alunos do Ensino Fundamental II e pode ser constituÃdo como uma iniciativa pedagÃgica de aplicaÃÃo do Modelo IdeolÃgico de Letramento preconizado por Street (2014).