Undergraduate Research Project:

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Undergraduate Research Project

• Centre for English Language Teacher Education
• Laura Powell

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Aims
Objectives

• Student attitudes towards different genres of
  academic writing
• Eg, Essays, Lab Reports, Case Studies, Creative
  Sketches
• How does the student know what is expected?

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Interview 36 students
Physical SciencesPhysicsPsychologyEngineering
Social SciencesLawBusinessSociology
ArtsEnglishHistoryPhilosophy
LifeSciencesMedicineChemistryBiological
Sciences
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What is the most important feature of an academic
essay?
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What is the most important feature of an academic
essay?
TI
EX
CL
A
CR
S
PR
R
B
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Life Sciences
Social Sciences
Physical Sciences
Arts
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Trigger Questions

• Structure
• Creativity or Originality
• Is there a right answer?
• How standardised is too standardised?

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Medicine
Structure
Philosophy
Its proof, proof, proof. A fixed journey on a
regimented path.
The more unique, the higher the mark. They dont
agree with set structures. They dont agree with
exams even.
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Social Sciences
CL
EX
A
R
B
Structure
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Structural Flexibility and Creativity
Just argue for and against the title to provide
as balanced a view as possible and to cover the
subject matter in enough depth.
Law, First Year
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Structural Flexibility and Creativity
Its a means to an end. We have x-points and
x-answer. Its just a case of getting there
really.
Physics, Second Year
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A-Levels
Feedback
Intuition
How do you know?
Website
Course Handbooks
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Markers Subjectivity

• I cater my essays to the first-marker
• English Literature 3nd year
• Its easier to know what they want and write to
  them when youve read their papers and interests
• Chemistry 4th year

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Markers Subjectivity

• No, it doesnt vary from marker to
• marker. They have to follow a very
• specific set of marking guidelines, you
• see.

Law, First Year
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First Year

Finalists
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First Year

Standardisation
Second Year

• Its taken a year of trial and error
• and I still dont have an inkling
• of an idea what they want. We need
• guidance. Its insufficient.

1st year, Philosophy
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First Year

Standardisation
Second Year
To get beyond a 21, individuality is key. This
is what I want to say and thats how I will say
it. If we curb subjectivity, how would we
deserve the marks?
2nd year, Philosophy
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