Analysis of 120 student's written work and how to improve their Writing Performance

Academic Paper from the year 2018 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, , course: English, language: English, abstract: Recent developments in EIKEN and TEAP testing in Japan try to ensure that students can write to a suitable standard and express their thoughts concisely whilst making use of correct academic conventions. However, as many teachers are aware, a large percentage of their university students are incapable of writing even the most fundamental sentences, despite having studied the language for six years. Indeed, large numbers of students wishing to attend universities in the UK and other overseas countries find it difficult to convey meaning accurately in English. They face similar problems with content and structure. This paper examines how three classes, one of 35 students and two of 34 students, at one university were assessed on their written ability and demonstrate that, even with the most rudimentary instruction and feedback, many were able to increase their writing performance significantly. I write this paper before the onset of a more detailed active research project I hope to conduct and feel confident that the initial findings substantiate further research into this field. Additionally, I am collaborating with a colleague to develop assessment software for the educational sector. In the following paragraphs I will discuss the methodology and reasoning behind the research project before discussing the findings. I teach English at a number of institutes from junior high schools to universities and I have always wondered how I might be able to help or encourage my students to improve upon their writing skills. Since I also grade written work for EIKEN pre-first examinees and TEAP examinees as well as deliver seminars on correct EAP conventions, I noticed that a large number of students make similar and repetitive mistakes in their written work. At the time of writing, I am collaborating with a colleague to develop assessment software for the EFL market and I wanted to test the appropriateness of this software on a number of students, receive their feedback and suggestions and make any necessary alterations to the planned software design before making an investment.