This study focuses on the writing of senior students in the subject
English at an ACT secondary college. Several features of the ACT
education system are relevant. There is a high retention rate, so the
sample is a broad one. The curriculum is school based, as is assessment.
There are separate courses for those seeking tertiary entrance (TE) and
those seeking to complete their education at Year 12 (Accredited).
The theoretical basis of the study is provided by the work of a number
of linguists with an interest in school language, in particular Graham
Little. 255 samples of writing have been analysed, taking account of the
function and forms of language. The function, or meaning, has been
analysed in terms of content, abstraction, purpose and audience.
The writing in the Accredited course is evenly distributed between the
human and material worlds, three quarters is informational and one
quarter Imaginative. The level of abstraction shows a predominance of
reporting and generalising. Writing in the TE course is 60% concerned
with the human world and reaches higher levels of abstraction such as
speculation and hypothesising. The audience is academic. Compared with
earlier findings, this study shows more human content and higher levels
of abstraction.
Language functions through selective use of forms. The aspects of form
analysed are vocabulary, abstraction of noun phrase, sentence length and
sentence sequencing. Figures produced were largely consistent with
earlier studies; however the TE group shows higher syllable counts,
greater abstraction of noun phrase and longer sentences than the
Accredited group. Creative writing brings the groups closest together.
Handwriting, spelling and punctuation are examined. Handwriting is
always legible, spelling close to 98% correct and 84% of full stops are
correctly used. A small number of scripts produce most of the errors in
both spelling and punctuation.
The achievement of students as revealed by this study of writing is
consistent with earlier studies although the students represented here
demonstrate higher levels of abstraction. The curriculum contains more
human content and is commendably comprehensive, although there is
less poetic and expressive writing than might be expected.
This form of language analysis is recommended for its concentration on
the language actually produced in class, the insights it provides for
teachers and the information it provides for meaningful public
discussion of education.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/219249 |
| Date | January 1987 |
| Creators | Patis, Anthony Powis, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Education |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Anthony Powis Patis |
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