-------------------------------
A STUDY ON “ USING GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS
TO TEACH WRITING FOR CLASS 10V”
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction
1.1. Rationale.
1.2.Purpose of the study.
1.2.1. Hypothesesof the study
1.2.2. Research Questions.
1.2.3. Significance of the Study.
2. Literature review
2.1. Theoretical considerations
2.2. The reality of teaching and learning writing at Son La specialized
high school
3. Methodology Section.
3.1. Participants and setting
3.2. Data sources and research material
3.3. Data collection procedure:
4. Research Schedule:
4. 1. Intervention
4.1.1. Pre – intervention.
4.1.2. Intervention.
4.1.3. Post – Intervention.
5. Applications of the study in the Units
6. Findings.
7. Closing Remark.
References
Appendix
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1. Introduction
1.1. Rationale
In the process of globalization, English plays an important role in
enhancing economy, politics, culture and international relations between many
countries. Therefore, there is a great demand for teaching and learning English
in the world as well as in Viet Nam. English users today focus more on the
ability to communicate in spoken and written languages. However, according to
Trang and Baldoff (2007), the education quality has not met the society’s
expectation because mostly high-school graduates cannot communicate in
English effectively in both oral and written forms. Under the urgent demand of
improving the qu lity, Vietn m’s English l ngu ge te ching h s recently
undergone a comprehensive reform. Vietnamese Ministry of Education and
Training has issued a new set of textbook for high school students in order to
develop students’ communic tive competence. he new textbook displ ys two
new teaching approaches. They are learner- centered and communicative
ppro ches. owever, reg rding Vietn m’s context, the ch nge will cre te
lot
of difficulties to teachers of English who are too familiar to the old teaching
methods, especially in teaching writing skill, which seems to be the most
difficult work in teaching English.
At Son La high school for gifted students, teaching writing skills is
really a big challenge. One of the major reasons for students' low
performance in writing; however, is the traditional methods adopted to teach
this skill. In fact teaching writing in this part of the word does not go far
beyond "the teacher assigns a topic, the students write and the teacher
evaluates and (at his/her best) provides feedback"(Marshi&Henatabad, 2011.
p.79 ) Such an approach to teaching writing, in the researchers' point of
view, is very unproductive and demotivating. It induces the learners to
develop negative attitudes towards writing. To make teaching writing more
fruitful and less boring, more modern innovative techniques such as graphic
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organizers are worth considering and being
utilized in teaching English
writing. Another problem is the students’ low level of English proficiency.
That is why they find it difficult to write. Moreover, lack of motivation also
faces the students. They often get bored and indifferent in the writing
lessons. In my opinion, the current problem must be worked out and
appropriate teaching techniques should be made. Up to present, a few
researches have been carried out on the teaching of writing for students in
Son La. As a teacher of English, who is aware of the fact, I wish to contribute
some suggestions for possible improvements in the teaching and learning of
writing skill by the means of graphic organizers.
1.2. Purpose of the study
In response to the problem of student' insufficient writing ability, comes this
research as an attempt to determine whether using graphic organizers helps to
improve Son La high school for gifted
students' writing performance as
measured by scores from a modified writing proficiency rubric developed by
The Georgia Department of Education (2008). This research also intends to
see how the use of such techniques impacts the students' attitudes towards
writing.
1.2.1. Hypotheses of the study
Through the use of graphic organizers to teach writing, it is
hypothesized that:
1.2.1.1. Students' writing performance will improve significantly.
This hypothesis is based on the assumption that graphic organizers
provide scaffolding or support for new information, help to focus attention,
organize information, select relevant vocabulary and offer a reminder for
previous information.
1.2.1.2.
Students' attitudes towards writing will become more
positive.
This hypothesis is based on the assumption that these organizers create
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an enjoyable learning atmosphere that enhances meaningful learning. Hence
they serve to improve performance and prevent frustration and boredom.
1.2.2.Questions of the study
This research is intended to answer two questions that are directly
related to the above hypotheses.
1- What is the effect of using graphic organizers on students' writing
performance?
2- How does the use of graphic organizers impact the students' attitudes
towards writing?
1.2.3.Significance of the Study
This research is significant as it attempts to investigate the impact
graphic organizers may have on the writing ability and attitudes towards
writing English of the 10th grade students at Son La specialized high school
towards this significant skill.
This study is also significant because its results would demonstrate the
viability of using such an occidental innovative technique; the graphic
organizers to improve the writing proficiency of a group of the 10th grade
students as well as their attitudes towards this important skill. If this
technique proves to be useful, then it goes without saying that it will be
adopted to teach this vital skill to attain better writing performance. Better
writing performance secures the academic future of the students and
facilitates their educational progress.
2. Literature review
2.1. Theoretical considerations
2.1.1. Definitions of writing
There are a lot of definitions of writing. According to Byrne (1991),
writing can be defined as the act of forming graphic symbols. When we write,
we use graphic symbol (alphabet, grammar, and structures) to make visual
meaningful utterances. Therefore, on one level, writing can be said to be the act
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of making marks on flat surface of some kinds. However, writing is not just
simply putting words, sentences together. Many researchers tended to focus on
the nature of writing as an entity of linguistic creation. For example, Brannon,
Knight and Neverow- urk ( 982, p. 2) pointed out “ writing is
cre tive rt,
not as assembly line operation of locking words together into sentence and
bolting sentences together into paragraphs in accordance with a predefined
pl n.”
Other researchers considered writing as a communicative process with
purposeful interaction between the participants. For example, NuNan (1999, p.
100) st ted, “Writing is not solit ry ct, r ther, it is the result of the inter ction
mong people, contexts, nd texts.” Oluw diy ( 990) considered the n ture of
writing s “ process” of “vi -text communic tion” between n ddresser nd n
addressee.
However, writing, in l ngu ge te chers’ opinions, is “ l ngu ge skill
which is difficult to cquire” ( ribble, 996, p. 3). t is “ process th t occurs
over a period of time, particularly if we take into account the sometimes
extended periods of thinking th t precede cre ting n initi l dr ft.” ( Harris,
1993, p. 10).
In short, the definitions of writing are various. However, writing is
characterized with some basic features, i.e. being linguistics, creative,
progressive and interactive. Besides, the word “writing” itself m y imply n ct,
a process, or a skill, which needs practice and study to develop. It requires both
physical and mental powers from the writers.
2.1.2. The importance of writing
NancieAtwel (1998) a leading writing practitioner reflecting on the importance
of writing, referred to it as a way of life. She explains that writing is a means to
acquire and attain language, confirming that it is an important mode of
communication through which life experience and personal views can be
shared.
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At another level, Graham and Perin (2007) describe writing as skill that draws
on the use of strategies to accomplish a variety of goals. They affirm that
writing is a means of extending and reinforcing knowledge. They add that
writing acts as an effective tool for acquiring new information.
2.1.3. Difficulty of teaching writing
Albeit the importance of writing, many scholars and researchers admit that
teaching this skill is a complex and cumbersome process (Calkins, 1994;
Marten, Seagraves, Thacker & Young, 2005). Other researchers confirm that
teaching writing is just as complicated as writing itself(Graham and Perin
(2007). Ching and Chee (2010) admit that teaching writing is demanding and
cumbersome.
As a teacher of writing for a long time, I acknowledge the difficulty and
complexity of teaching English writing. However, it should also be
acknowledged that the traditional methods which are widely adopted to teach
this skill in this part of the world is one of the major causes for the poor level of
the students' writing performance.
2.1.4. Effective writing teaching requirements
Effective writing teaching requires the use of assistive devices to support and
maintain the learning of this skill (Dell, Newton &Pertraff, 2008). It is not
enough for the teachers of writing to be highly qualified, but that their practices
of instruction follow scientific based research.
Strangman&Dalton (2005) outlines the major principles of effective writing
instruction. These involve providing support for recognition through
(presentation), support for strategic learning through (expression) and support
for affective learning through (engagement). Use of mind maps and graphics,
says Strangman, provides the teacher with tools and strategies that help him/her
to adhere to the above principles of effective writing teaching.
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Currently, visual organizers are widely incorporated in teaching writing. These
tools areclaimed to provide learners with a concrete structural framework of
information and help to focus the learners' attention on key ideas and the
conceptual relations between these ideas rather than the apparently isolated facts
(Delrose, 2011). In fact, the use of graphic organizers enhances
understanding, organizing and meaningful learning, and in this way facilitates
the complex task of learning writing while serving to prevent boredom (Janssen,
Beissner&Yacci, (1993).
Lee (2004) regards graphic organizers as the most effective tools for teaching
and improving writing skills. In fact, dozens of empirical studies were
conducted to verify the efficacy of such organizers, and almost all of these
studies asserted their viability for teaching writing. It is found that these
organizers help the students visualize the abstract ideas, divide the writing tasks
into smaller palatable parts, and monitor their writing progress (Unzueta, 2009).
2.1.5.Graphic Organizers
Graphic organizers are defined by Bishop (2013) as visual displays of key
content information designed to guide learners and to enhance their
comprehension. They are sometimes referred to as concept maps, cognitive
maps, or content maps, but they are all used to serve one purpose. They are
meant, says Baxendell (2003) to help students clearly see how ideas are
organized within a text or surrounding a concept. Through the use of
organizers, learners acquire the structure of abstract concepts. A graphic
organizer is a visual graphic display that shows the relation between facts, terms
or ideas within a learning task (Hall &Strangman, 2002). The visual
representation of graphic organizers provides learners with a structural
framework of information to be learned. This helps to direct the learners'
attention to key concepts and conceptual relationships. The use of such
organizers, thus promotes understanding, and enhances organization and long
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term retention of information. It stresses meaningful learning which serves to
facilitatelearning and minimize boredom (Janssen, et al, 1993).
2.1.6. Students' attitudes towards writing
The ability to write clearly, consciously and efficiently is important to achieve
academic success. However, many students have limited writing abilities and
struggle to write compositions that adequately convey their thoughts and ideas
(Unezueta, 2009). Indeed, the writing process can be very cumbersome and
difficult to master. Actually many students are classified as low achievers in this
skill. This situation is quite frustrating and leads many students to develop
negative attitudes towards this essential skill.
Educators can play a major role in helping students overcome this problem. It
is important for teachers to provide students with interesting, authentic and
meaningful writing experiences (Chohan, 2011). When these types of
experiences are provided for the students, they become more engaged and
interested in their learning. According to Chohan (2011), writing is better
learned when students are engaged, helped to organize their thoughts, and
allowed to express their own experiences.
Lancaster (2013) reports that when students have the chance to participate in
writing workshops and used a variety of graphic organizers, writing becomes
meaningful, creative and more enjoyable. Furthermore, when learners are
offered the opportunity to practice writing under stress-free conditions, they
become more comfortable and confident in the writing process.
Marten ,L. Seagraves ,R. Thacker, S. &Young, L. (2005) add that teaching
writing via the use of graphic organizers is meaningful and interesting because
it effectively shows students' growth with respect to their writing abilities.
Lancaster (2013) confirms that the use of graphic organizers in teaching is one
way to create a learning atmosphere where students love writing. Teachers can
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prevent writing failure and students' frustration when successful, meaningful
ways of teaching are used.
2.2. The reality of teaching and learning writing atSon La specialized
high school
2.2.1. The teacher’s and students’ attitudes towards the teaching and
learning of writing
Writing is not highly appreciated by the students and even the teachers do
not take the importance of writing seriously. This is because of the main
purpose of teaching and learning English at Son Laspecializedhigh school. The
results of the final exam and university entrance exam are considered the most
importance of teaching and learning English at school so both the teachers and
students there focus mostly on grammar and reading skill rather than on other
skills such as speaking, listening and writing. This cert inly ffects the students’
writing competence and prevents the improvement of their writing ability.
onsequently, most of the te chers nd the students think the students’ writing
competence is bad.
2.2.2. Students’ difficulties in learning writing
The 10th form students at Son La Specialized high school are sixteen years
old. Although they have been learning English for four years at lower-secondary
schools, their English knowledge is still limited. Besides, they have no clear
determination on English learning goal. Students have to face many difficulties
that are from two causes: (1) from the students themselves, and (2) from the
te chers’ lectures.
In terms of the first cause, the majority of the students have trouble with
writing because of their low level of English proficiency. Their vocabulary and
sentence structures are poor. Grammar mistakes and spelling are also a common
fear for many of them. Besides, their low background knowledge also makes
them feel stressed when writing. Many of the students said they found it hard to
generate ideas and make an outline because of their low background knowledge.
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Their low motivation is also a problem. These students consider the result of the
exams as the most importance of their learning. Therefore, they care much
about grammar, structures and reading skill. This, obviously, decreases their
interest in writing. Moreover, they consider time limitation as a trouble. Many
of them said they sometimes did not have enough time to complete writing tasks
at class. The main reason for this is because of their low level of English
proficiency and low background knowledge.
In terms of the second cause, the students do not highly asses their
te chers’ ssist nce. hey find their te chers’ feedb cks re not comprehensive
nd their te chers’ instructions re not dequ te.
2.2.3. The new “TiengAnh 10” textbook.
he new “ ieng nh 0” is the first of
three-level English language set
of textbooks for the Vietnamese upper secondary school. It follows the
systematic, cyclical and theme-based curriculum approved by the Minister of
Education and Training on 23rd November 2012. The aim of this set of
textbooks is to develop students’ communic tive competence in listening,
speaking, reading and writing so that when finishing upper secondary school,
students will achieve level three of the Vietnamese Foreign Language
Competence Framework (equivalent to B1 in the Common European
Framework of Reference for Languages).
2.2.3.1. Grade 10 writing objectives
The aim of the course is to equip students with English writing skill for
basic communication. For grade 10 students, the objective is to develop
students’ bilities to provide
0 - 180 word paragraphs or short essay on
familiar topics.
2.2.3.2. Writing lessons
The writing subsection prepares students to cope with the two biggest
problems they usually experience, which are lack of ideas and lack of necessary
language to express ideas. It often begins with a pre-writing activity that
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presents the topic and gives students an opportunity to brainstorm ideas related
to the given topic. In the following activity, useful phrases are presented and
practiced so that students can use them later. Sometimes, a model text is
presented with one or two tasks for students to study its structure and format
before producing their own text. This approach to writing gives students some
guidance so that they feel more confident and are better prepared for the writing
task.
In order to realize the course objective, the writing section focuses on daily
and popular topics. The required competences and objectives of the writing
lesson in each unit are detailed in the following table:
Units
Required tasks
1. Family Life
Writing about doing household chores
2. Your body and you Writing about what to eat and not to eat
3. Music
Writing a biography
4. For a Better
Writing an application letter for volunteer work
Community
5. Inventions
Writing about the benefits of an invention
6. Gender Equality
Writing about the disadvantages of working mothers
7. Cultural Diversity
Writing about some typical characteristics of Vietnamese
people
8. New ways to learn
Writing about the advantages of electronic devices as
learning tools
9. Preserving the
Writing about environmental problem and give some
Environment
practical advice on how to preserve the environment
10. Ecotourism
Writing a travel brochure promoting an ecotour
Table 1: Checklist of writing tasks in TiengAnh 10 textbook
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3. Methodology section
3.1. Participant and Setting
The participants of this study were the students from class 10V with 32
students majoring in literature. They are chosen to be the first students to study
the new textbook designed for those who have been studying English for 10
years from grade 3 to grade 12. To study this textbook, students have to achieve
level two of the Vietnamese Foreign Language Competence Framework
(equivalent to A2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for
Languages). However, the number of the students that can meet the requirement
is very small, about 15in the total of 32 students. Consequently, I faced a lot of
challenges when teaching students the new textbook, especially writing skill.
3.2. Data sources and research material
Both quantitative and qualitative methods are employed to carry out the study.
The study used two major instruments for data collection: a writing rubric (see
App. A) and an attitudinal survey (see App. B). The writing rubric based on
The Georgia Department of Education Scale was selected and modified by the
researcher to assess the various traits of students' writing. The second
instrument used in this study was the attitude survey. This survey was intended
to measure the students' attitudes and feelings towards writing and their
perceptions of the writing task. Informal interviews with the colleagues and the
students are also conducted. Besides, reviewing the related documents is also a
method to establish the theoretical background for the study.
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3.3. Data collection procedure:
The data collection procedure is indicated in the following chart:
32
grade 10 students
The attitude survey
Writing pre-test
The teaching of writing skills (3 lessons-Unit 3, 4 and
5)
1st writing post – test
The teaching of writing skills (3 lessons-Unit 6, 7, 9 )
2ndwrtiting post - test
Compare the results of the pre-test and the two post tests
The attitude survey
DATA ANALYSIS
4. Research Schedule:
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4. 1. Intervention
4.1.1. Pre – intervention
- This began after I had finished teaching Unit 1 and 2 in the new
textbook. This stage lasted for one week during which I met twice with
students. In the first lesson, the students were given some explanation of the
intended experiment and its expected benefits for them. The concept of
graphic organizers was briefly introduced and the students were informed
that they were going to learn more about these techniques and their use to
enhance writing ability.
In the same lesson, the students were given the writing attitude survey.
This was a close -ended survey intended to collect some information about
the students’ perceptions and feelings towards writing before the graphic
organizers' intervention. This survey would be given to the students once
more at the end of the study to see if there were any changes in students'
attitudes towards writing which could be attributed to the graphic
organizers' intervention.
In the second lesson of this phase, the participants were informed that
they were going to do their first writing assignment. Evaluation was carried
out by using the writing rubrics designed for this study.
4.1.2. Intervention
I applied graphic organizers in teaching writing skill for 10V in Unit 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 9 and 10.In the first semester, the students had 2 periodical tests, the
teacher used these test as a way to check the development of the students’
ability on writing skill. After each writing lesson, the teacher took notice of
any development of students by collecting students’ writing and that was
also used for the comparison in collecting date.
4.1.3. Post – Intervention
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There were two post-writing test, the first one was conducted at the end
of the first term and the second was at the end of the second term.The
scores of the students were averaged and recorded to be compared to
their scores before the intervention or before they received their graphic
organizer's training. Results of this comparison would help to answer the
major question of this study and to reject or verify its main hypothesis.
In the second lesson of this last week of the study, the students were
administered the writing attitudes survey. It was the same survey which
was given to them during the baseline period. The students’responses to
this questionnaire were used to check if the use of graphic organizers
had changed their attitudes towards writing.
5. Applications of the study in the Units.
Unit 3: MUSIC
Writing a biography
Early life:
Name of the
Person:
Typical works:
Important
achievements:
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Conclusion:
Unit 4: FOR A BETTER COMMUNITY
Writing an application letter for volunteer work
Writer’s address
Date
Employer’s title
Company/ Organization
Address
Dear .....................................
Paragraph 1: Mentioning the job you are applying for
and where you found the job.
Paragraph 2: Telling why you are right for the job
mentioning your experiences and responsibilities.
Paragraph 3: Listing your personal qualities and offering
to send references.
Paragraph 4: Saying you are available for an interview
and when you could start work.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours......................
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Unit 5: INVENTIONS
Writing about the benefits of an invention
Topic sentence
Benefit 1:
further
explanation:
Benefit 2:
further
explanation:
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Benefit 3:
further
explanation:
Unit 6: GENDER EQUALITY
Writing about the disadvantages of working mothers
Topic sentence:
Supporting idea 1:
Explanation 2:
Explanation 1:
Supporting idea 2:
Explanation 1:
Explanation 2:
Supporting idea 3:
Explanation 2:
Explanation 1:
Concluding sentence:
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Unit 7: CULTURAL DIVERSITY
Writing about some typical characteristics of Vietnamese people
Introduction:
is
is
characteristics 1:
characteristics 2:
is
characteristics 3:
because
because
Conclusion:
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because
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