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The implementation of the process approach to the writing of english essays in rural grade 12 classes in the Moroke Circuit

Thesis (M.A. (English)) --University of Limpopo, 2011. / In 2008, the National Department of Education in South Africa introduced a new
curriculum known as the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) in the Grade 12 classes.
Prior to the introduction of this new curriculum, the writing of essays in Grade 12
classes was treated as a once-off activity. The focus on essay activities was mainly on
the product and after the assessment of such product-driven essays, teachers had no
further interest in them except for recording marks when necessary. The paucity of
interaction between teachers and learners may have contributed to the majority of
learners writing incoherent essays and achieving low marks.
This research study investigates whether teachers in the Moroke Circuit understand and
implement the process approach in the writing of English essays in rural Grade 12
classes as prescribed by the NCS. The NCS advocates the use of the process writing
approach in essay writing. The process writing approach encourages a partnership
between teachers and learners. Teachers are expected to treat learners’ essays as
improvable objects through pre-writing activities, self and peer assessment which
Kasanga (2004:64) refers to as “multiple-draft multiple-reader writing instruction”.
To achieve the aim of the study, learners’ essays were checked against the process
writing checklist and the teachers’ responses in the questionnaire they were requested
to complete as part of the study. The findings revealed that teachers in the Moroke
Circuit do not fully understand the process writing approach and thus they do not fully
implement it as advocated. There are various factors which may contribute to the
learners’ poor writing skills, the main of which appear to be the teachers’ inadequate
training and poor understanding of the process writing approach. Some teachers
attended short training courses on NCS and others did not attended any. Based on the
findings, it is recommended that teachers should receive adequate training in the
process writing approach for it to be implemented as effectively as the NCS prescribes.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ul/oai:ulspace.ul.ac.za:10386/2447
Date January 2011
CreatorsDikgari, Ngokoana Magdeline
ContributorsMcCabe, R.
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Formatvi, 93 leaves.
RelationAdobe Acrobat Reader version 8

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