Table of contents
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
The Task …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 14
Preface ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. i
Acknowledgements ……………………………………………………………………………………iii
Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………v
The Problem ……………………………………………………………………………………..vi
The Language Policy in Nigeria …………………………………………………………..viii
Chapter One:
Language for Academic Purposes
Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………1
The Nature of LAP ………………………………………………………………………………………1
The Nature of Writing ………………………………………………………………………………… 3
The Basic Problem in Writing …………………………………………………………………….. 8
The Aims of LAP ………………………………………………………………………………………9
Good Writing ………………………………………………………………………………………9
Effective Writing …………………………………………………………………………………….10
Thinking Straight …………………………………………………………………………………….12
Assignment …………………………………………………………………………………….13
Chapter Two:
The Word
Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………….17
The Acquisition of Words …………………………………………………………………………. 17
The Stages of Vocabulary Growth …………………………………………………………….. 19
Diction ……………………………………………………………………………………20
Denotation and Connotation …………………………………………………………………… 21
Usage …………………………………………………………………………………….22
Making Friends with Words …………………………………………………………………….. 24
Danger Areas…………………………………………………………………………….24
Assignment …………………………………………………………………………………….26
Chapter Three:
The Sentence
Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………….29
The Structure of the Sentence …………………………………………………………………… 29
Agreement of Subject and Verb ………………………………………………………………… 31
Definite and Indefinite Clauses ………………………………………………………………… 31
Sentence Types …………………………………………………………………………………….32
A Question of Grammar …………………………………………………………………………… 33
Fluency and Accuracy ………………………………………………………………………………. 33
Grammaticality and Acceptability ……………………………………………………………. 35
Sentence Length and Variation …………………………………………………………………. 36
Assignment …………………………………………………………………………………….37
Chapter Four:
The Paragraph
Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………….39
Kinds of Paragraph …………………………………………………………………………………… 39
The Structure of the Paragraph …………………………………………………………………. 42
Paragraph Length …………………………………………………………………………………….42
Paragraph Linkage …………………………………………………………………………………… 44
Assignment …………………………………………………………………………………….47
Chapter Five:
The Continuous Assessment Essay
Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………….49
The Continuous Assessment Essay: Process or Product ……………………………. 50
The Product Approach ……………………………………………………………………………… 50
Process Approaches ………………………………………………………………………………….. 53
Genre Approaches ……………………………………………………………………………………54
The Nature of Academic Writing ……………………………………………………………… 59
The Style of Exposition …………………………………………………………………………….. 62
Types of Academic Writing ………………………………………………………………………. 65
The Structure of the CA Essay ………………………………………………………………….. 67
The Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………….67
The Body of the Essay ………………………………………………………………………………. 70
Applying the Method of Exposition………………………………………………………….. 78
The Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………………….80
The Choice of Tense in the CA Essay………………………………………………………… 82
The Writer and the Audience ……………………………………………………………………. 83
Assignment …………………………………………………………………………………….87
Chapter Six:
Analysis of Student Writing
Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 89
The Design of the Essay ……………………………………………………………………………. 90
The Questions for the Essay ……………………………………………………………………… 90
Breakdown of the Sample …………………………………………………………………………. 91
Data Analysis …………………………………………………………………………………….91
Statistical Analysis ……………………………………………………………………………………92
Results and Discussion: Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis …………………. 92
Communication Quality ……………………………………………………………………………. 92
-Writing Transfer …………………………………………………………………………………. 93
-Composing Competence …………………………………………………………………….. 94
-Register Choice …………………………………………………………………………………… 95
-have Communication Difficulty ………………………………………………………………….. 98
Organisation ……………………………………………………………………………………………100
-Logical Sequence ……………………………………………………………………………….101
-Statement of Intention ……………………………………………………………………….102
Argumentation ………………………………………………………………………………………..106
-The Well-Supported Argument ………………………………………………………….107
-Inadequate Presentation of Argument ……………………………………………….109
-Lack of Support …………………………………………………………………………………110
-Lack of Clarity …………………………………………………………………………………..111
-Irrelevant Argument ………………………………………………………………………….112
-Lack of Argument ……………………………………………………………………………..112
-Clarity of Argument …………………………………………………………………………..113
-Relating Argument to the Writer’s Experience …………………………………..115
-Supporting Arguments ………………………………………………………………………117
Linguistic Accuracy ………………………………………………………………………………….117
-Vocabulary Choice …………………………………………………………………………….118
-Faulty Word Division …………………………………………………………………………119
-Grammar …………………………………………………………………………………………..121
-Articles ………………………………………………………………………………………………121
-Misuse of the Clause of Purpose ………………………………………………………..122
-The Misuse of Replacive One ……………………………………………………………..123
-Running on Sentences ……………………………………………………………………….124
-Punctuation ……………………………………………………………………………………….126
-Spelling ……………………………………………………………………………………………..128
-Generic and Polysemic Use ……………………………………………………………….129
-Misuse of the Clause of Manner and Comparison As …………………………130
-Misuse of the Indicators of Apposition ………………………………………………130
-Incomplete Sentences ………………………………………………………………………..131
-Repetitiveness ……………………………………………………………………………………131
-General Grammatical Inadequacy ……………………………………………………..132
-Good Grammatical Control ………………………………………………………………133
Linguistic Appropriacy ……………………………………………………………………………..134
-Linguistic Accuracy …………………………………………………………………………..134
-Limited Ability at Manipulating Linguistic Systems …………………………..135
-Inability to Manipulate Linguistic Systems …………………………………………136
-Lack of Linguistic Appropriacy ………………………………………………………….136
-Limited Sense of Linguistic Appropriacy ……………………………………………137
-Lack of Linguistic Appropriacy ………………………………………………………….137
Implications …………………………………………………………………………………………….138
Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………………………..139
Chapter Seven:
Reading and the Writing Student
Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………………141
The Reading Activity ……………………………………………………………………………….141
Context …………………………………………………………………………………………………..144
Types of Reading …………………………………………………………………………………….146
Intensive Reading ……………………………………………………………………………………146
The Problems Students Face in Intensive Reading ……………………………………147
Extensive Reading …………………………………………………………………………………..148
Assignment ……………………………………………………………………………………………..151
Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………………………..155
Bibliography ……………………………………………………………………………………………157
