Date of Award
9-2009
Thesis Type
Masters
Document Type
Dissertation
Divisions
Faculty of Languages and Linguistics
Department
Department of English Language
Institution
Universiti Malaya
Abstract
This study seeks to find out whether the quality of students’ writing improves substantially through collaboration. It is to gain an understanding into how collaborative work can aid the learning and teaching of writing in a typical Malaysian classroom. Moreover, the need to engage with others is an essential element for maintaining motivation in learning. The research methodology utilises an experimental approach. First, a pre-test was conducted in which subjects composed an essay individually. Next, the pre-test was followed by intervention in which subjects were familiarised with the steps involved in collaborative work. Finally, subjects were required to write essays using the steps in collaborative work in a post-test. A comparison was made between essays from the pre-test and post-test according to the marking criteria designed by the Malaysian Examinations Syndicate which include content, vocabulary, language and mechanics. Subjects were also observed during the post-test. At the end of the post-test, questionnaires were administered to the subjects. Observation of subjects during the post-test revealed that they carried out the steps in collaborative work. Analyses of subjects’ pre-test and post-test essays revealed that when collaborative work was carried out carefully, it could promote students’ writing. Changes were made to the content and subjects did well in vocabulary. Language and mechanics registered mixed results. Analyses of subjects’ responses to the questionnaire showed that the majority of subjects liked working in a group and valued the comments from their friends. Most of them gave positive remarks for preferring collaborative work in writing.
Additional Information
Dissertation (M.A.) – Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Universiti Malaya, 2009.
Recommended Citation
Hsiang Chyii, Tan, "The effectiveness of collaboration in teaching and learning writing." (2009). Student Works (2010-2019). 116.
https://knova.um.edu.my/student_works_2010s/116
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Included in
Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Educational Methods Commons, Language and Literacy Education Commons
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