ERIC Number: EJ1127448
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015-Oct
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2203-4714
EISSN: N/A
Improving Undergraduates' Argumentative Group Essay Writing through Self-Assessment
Fung, Yong Mei; Mei, Hooi Chee
Advances in Language and Literary Studies, v6 n5 p214-224 Oct 2015
When writing an argumentative essay, writers develop and evaluate arguments to embody, initiate, or simulate various kinds of interpersonal and textual interaction for reader consideration (Wu & Allison, 2003). This is quite challenging for English as a second language (ESL) learners. To improve the quality of their writing, students need to review their draft throughout the writing process. This study aimed to investigate the effect of self-assessment in group writing and how group work improves students' writing ability. An intact class comprising 22 first-year undergraduates participated in the study. Data were collected from pre- and post-treatment writing tests, semi-structured interview and reflection entries. The results revealed that self-assessment has a significant effect on students' writing performance. Group work also enhanced social and cognitive development of the students. This study provides insights into the use of self-assessment in writing class to develop learner autonomy and improve writing ability.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, College Freshmen, Freshman Composition, Essays, Writing Improvement, Persuasive Discourse, Collaborative Writing, Self Evaluation (Individuals), Writing Evaluation, Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, English (Second Language), Writing Ability, Writing Tests, Pretests Posttests, Semi Structured Interviews, Reflection, Quasiexperimental Design, Check Lists, Statistical Analysis, Peer Evaluation, Feedback (Response)
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Tests/Questionnaires; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Malaysia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A