The article is available to read online here, or download as a pdf here (scroll to page 51).

An analysis of perceptions: Writing task designers in an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program and a specific academic discipline (Elaheh Gharesoufloo, Macquarie University)

Introduction

Ella’s study is focused on the perceptions that the teachers who design writing test tasks have of what academic writing actually is. This is an important question to ask, since we know that beliefs and perceptions about language have an impact on pedagogical decisions, including testing and assessment.

Ella conducted her study in two contexts – 1) EAP, and 2) a university discipline – Accounting and Corporate Governance.

She adopted a theoretical framework that views language use within six areas:

• skills
• creativity
• progress
• genre
• social practice
• sociopolitical
  (see diagram below)

The findings, on page 53, are interesting and it would be a good starting point to ask:

1. To what extent do your own perspectives of academic writing fit with these findings?
2. And, how useful do you find the six discourses of writing?