Exploring the problem with graduate students of literature in Academic English Writing Skills: A case Study of Public universities in Sindh

Abstract

Writing skill is employed as the chief tool for the assessment and evaluation in the academic culture. Therefore, almost all accrediting and awarding exams are conducted in writing. Hence, the academic writing skill possesses a paramount importance for the aspirants of higher education. The graduate and post graduate students of English Literature possess a rich reading background of English Literature. Hence, they are expected to possess presentable written communication skills in all form of writing especially in the Academic Writing skills. This study was conducted to identify the problems in Academic English Writing skills for the students of literature studying in public sector universities. The study focused on the identification of problems in writing and the causes along with the assessment of contemporary teaching methodology of writing skills. The population of the study comprises four major public sector universities offering B.S and M.A in English literature. A sample of 210 students and 22 teachers was selected to collect the data through close-ended and open-ended questionnaires. Brief drafts were also obtained from the students to determine the readability level and error analysis. The same drafts were transcribed and processed through Flesch readability ease test to determine an evaluation. t-test and Pearson’s Correlation r- test were applied on the data to ascertain the results. The Convergent Mixed Method Research approach was exploited to analyze the data and results obtained from the questionnaires and scripts. The findings of the study reveal that students are facing many problems in academic writings such as the writer’s block, lexical complications, first language interference, memory complications, cognitive challenges and the surface issues like vocabulary and grammar. It was found that a rare attention is paid on the psychological and lexical development of writers that results in the form of disinterestedness among the students towards Academic Writings. Revision in the syllabus, inculcation of modern writing methods and modification in the assessment and evaluation of writing can help to overcome these problems.