VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES ------------------- TRẦN THỊ CẨM VÂN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE 12th FORM STUDENTS’ WRITING SKILLS THROUGH SUPPLEMENTARY READING MATERIALS AT LÝ THƯỜNG KIỆT HIGH SCHOOL, HÀ NAM (NGHIÊN CỨU VỀ VIỆC CẢI THIỆN KỸ NĂNG VIẾT THÔNG QUA CÁC TÀI LIỆU ĐỌC BỔ TRỢ CỦA HỌC SINH LỚP 12 TRƯỜNG THPT LÝ THƯỜNG KIỆT, HÀ NAM) M.A. MINOR PROGRAMME THESIS Field: English Teaching Methodology Code: 60140111 Hanoi, 2015 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES ------------------- TRẦN THỊ CẨM VÂN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE 12th FORM STUDENTS’ WRITING SKILLS THROUGH SUPPLEMENTARY READING MATERIALS AT LÝ THƯỜNG KIỆT HIGH SCHOOL, HÀ NAM (NGHIÊN CỨU VỀ VIỆC CẢI THIỆN KỸ NĂNG VIẾT THÔNG QUA CÁC TÀI LIỆU ĐỌC BỔ TRỢ CỦA HỌC SINH LỚP 12 TRƯỜNG THPT LÝ THƯỜNG KIỆT, HÀ NAM) M.A. MINOR PROGRAMME THESIS Field: English Teaching Methodology Code: 60140111 Supervisor: Dr. Phạm Đăng Bình Hanoi, 2015 DECLARATION I declare that this thesis and the work presented in it are my own and have been generated by me as the result of my own original research. I confirm that this thesis is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Arts and that this thesis has not previously been submitted for a degree or any other qualification at any other universities or institutions. Hanoi, April, 2015 Trần Thị Cẩm Vân i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I would like to express my sincere thanks to my supervisor Dr. Phạm Đăng Bình for his generous assistance and guidance, especially for his sympathy throughout the research process. My special thanks go to all the teachers in the faculty of Post Graduate Studies, University of Languages and International Studies for their useful lectures, materials, guidance and enthusiasm during my course. I also highly appreciate the cooperation of my colleagues and Class 12A1 and Class 12D1 students at Lý Thường Kiệt High School in Ha Nam. Last, I would like to express my gratitude to my family and my friends, who have always encouraged me and supported me to fulfill this study. ii ABSTRACT The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of integrating supplementary reading materials in writing lessons of the 12 th form students at Ly Thuong Kiet high school. Along with it, the most popular difficulties and possible suggestions to enhance students’ writing skills through reading would be discussed. The study revolves an experimental research with the participation of teachers and 90 students of 12th form at Lý Thường Kiệt High School, Ha Nam province. To collect data for this study, two pre-task questionnaires, two post-task questionnaires, a pre-test and a post-test were employed. After examining the responses from the pre-task questionnaires, the author designed and integrated a set of nine supplementary reading texts and respective reading and writing exercises into writing lessons of 45 experimental students in weeks of the first semester of the school year 2014-2015. During the same time, 45 students of the control group only received writing exercises. The results from the post-task questionnaires, the pre-test and post-test showed that there had been a significant improvement in the students’ writing skill in terms of vocabulary, ideas and organization after they took part in the supplementary reading integration programme in comparison with the students of control group. Moreover, most of students of the experimental group acknowledged the benefits of the supplementary reading integration programme and expected that such programme would be applied in the future. iii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS EFL : English as a Foreign Language ESL : English as a Second Language MOET : Ministry of Education and Training LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Students' Writing Proficiency 22 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Class 12A1 and Class 12D1 Pre-test Score . Figure 2: Class 12A1 and Class 12D1 Post-test Score . Figure 3: Opinions on role of writings skill in learning English Figure 4: Opinions on time spent for writing skill at school . Figure 5: Students' Writing Practice Frequency . Figure 6: Difficulties that students encounter when writing . Figure 7: Methods Teachers use to instruct students to develop their 25 26 27 28 28 29 writing skill . 29 Figure 8: Opinion on effect of the supplementary reading integration programme 30 Figure 9: Benefits that students could gain from the supplementary reading integration programme . 31 Figure 10: Continue designing supplementary reading materials to develop students' writing skill or not 32 Figure 11: Tasks students should . 32 Figure 12: Tasks teachers should . 33 TABLE OF CONTENTS Declaration i Acknowledgements . ii Abstract . iii iv List of Abbreviations . iv List of Tables iv List of Figures iv TABLE OF CONTENTS . PART A: INTRODUCTION 1. Statement of the Problem 2. Aims of the study 3. Research questions 4. Scope of the study . 5. Significance of the study . 6. Method of the study . 7. Design of the study PART B: DEVELOPMENT . CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW 1.1. Definitions of Writing 1.1.1. What is Writing? . 1.1.2. Rationale behind teaching Writing 1.1.3. Approaches to Writing Instruction 1.1.3.1. Text-Centred Approach 1.1.3.2. Writer-Centred Approach 1.1.3.3. Reader-Centred Approach 1.2. Definitions of Supplementary Reading Materials 1.2.1. What is Supplementary Reading Materials? . 1.2.2. Suitable Supplementary Reading Materials for EFL v 1 1 3 4 4 6 9 Teaching and Learning Process 11 1.2.3. The Influence of Reading on Writing . 12 1.2.4. Researches on Adopting Reading Materials to Enhance Writing 1.3. Conclusion CHAPTER 2: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 2.1. Investigation Context . 2.2. Participants . 2.3. Data Collection Instruments . 2.3.1. Questionnaires . 2.3.1.1.Student Questionnaires 2.3.1.2.Teacher Questionnaires . 2.3.2. Pre-Test and Post-Tests . 2.4. Scoring Rubric for Writing ……………………………………. v 13 14 16 16 16 17 17 17 17 18 18 2.5. Experimental Intervention: Supplementary Reading Material 21 Integration . 2.5.1. The Supplementary Reading Materials . 2.5.2. Supplementary Reading Material Integration Procedure . CHAPTER 3: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 3.1. Analysing Writing Test Results . 3.1.1. Analysis of Writing Proficiency 3.1.1.1. Analysis of Word Choice . 3.1.1.2. Analysis of Convention 3.1.1.3. Analysis of Coherence . 3.1.1.4. Analysis of Ideas 3.1.1.5. Analysis of Organization 3.1.1.6. Analysis of Writing Test Scores 3.2. Evaluating Responses from Questionnaires . 3.2.1. Evaluation of Responses from Pre-task Questionnaires . 3.2.2. Evaluation of Responses from Post-task Questionnaires . 3.3. Summary PART C: CONCLUSION 1. Conclusion on Major Findings 2. Pedagogical Implications 3. Limitations of the Study 4. Suggestions for Further Studies REFERENCES APPENDICES . 21 21 22 22 22 22 23 23 23 24 25 27 27 30 35 34 35 36 36 37 38 I vi vii PART A: INTRODUCTION 1. Rationale Although writing is an important skill in teaching and learning English, it seems to be undervalued inside the classroom. The neglect of this skill causes the 12th graders at Ly Thuong Kiet (LTK) high school to be weak and poor writers though writing is a compulsory part in the national GCSE examination. It is noticed that English teachers in LTK high school often use a methodology based on teacher-talk and note-taking practices, mainly explaining some new words and structures before asking students to write. Therefore, the 12th students could not express well in English due to the lack of format instruction, useful language, topic background, idea organization, etc. Among many methods of improving students’ writing skill, integrating two language skills, reading and writing has been proved to have positive effects on students’ writing skills in many researches. Brown (1987) stated that “by reading and studying a variety of relevant types of text, students can gain important insights both about how they should write and about subject matter that may become the topic of their writing”. Reading inspires students, helps them to think critically and analytically. Reading also provides students with ideas for their essays because they often lack the experience for complex subjects. Moreover, reading supplies grammar, syntax, language or organization for students as a model. Despite many advantages, this method hasn’t been deployed in the context of high school in Vietnam. All these mentioned reasons above have inspired the researcher to carry out the study titled “An investigation into the improvements of the 12th form students’ writing skills through supplementary reading materials at Lý Writing Task: What are the qualities of a good teacher? Do you intend to apply for a teacher-traning course when you graduate?. ……………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………… XXVIII Appendix 15: Reading Text Read the passage and the task that follows Higher Education in the USA There is no national system of higher education in the USA. Basically American higher education developed its own pattern by the adaption of two traditions: the collegiate tradition of England and the university tradition of the continent. In the USA there is no consistent distinction between the term "college" and "university". The general tendency, however, is to call a college a higher educational institution offering mainly courses of instruction leading to the Bachelor's degree; a university is a college or a group of colleges or departments under one control offering courses of instruction leading not only to the Bachelor's degree but also the Master's and the Doctor's degree. The term college is also sometimes loosely applied to institutions which are actually only secondary schools. The American college, although it is the outgrowth of the English college of Oxford and Cambridge, has developed into an institution which has no counterpart in Europe. The college course of study, at first three years in duration, was soon extended to years and the classes are uniformly known as the freshman, the sophomore, the junior and the senior. The traditional degree which crowns the college course is that of Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). The studies ordinarily insisted on in case of candidates for this degree are Latin, Greek, mathematics, English, philosophy, political economy, history and at least one modern European language (French or German) and at least one natural science. XXIX Reading Task: Fill the word or phrase in the blank - The main difference between a college and a university in the American system of higher education is that a college offers mainly courses of instruction leading to the (1) . and a university offers courses leading not only to the (2) . but also the Master's and the Doctor's degree. - It normally takes a student (3) . years to get a B.A. degree in an American college. - In the American system of education, the word "college" may refer to institutions which are actually only (4) schools. - Biology, physics and chemistry are (5) science. - The word "continent" in the paragraph refers to "(6) ." Writing Task: Compare the higher education system between the USA and Vietnam. ……………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………… XXX Appendix 16: Reading Text Read the passage and the task that follows The Pros and Cons of Freelancing If you've considered a career change, then you may also be planning on going it alone and freelancing. Freelance opportunities have rocketed in the past decade, with the Internet making remote working more viable than ever. Depending on the profession, freelancers can also work on a contractual basis on site. Whichever mode of freelancing you're thinking about, it's always a good idea to weigh up the pros and cons of freelancing to see whether you're suited to working in this capacity. PRO: Flexible Working Hours One extremely attractive advantage of working freelance is that often you will be able to choose what hours you work, particularly when working from home. Of course, this also drastically reduces or eliminates your time spent commuting! Often if you are working on a project, you will be given a deadline. This means that you can choose what hours you want to work. If you're a night owl, then you can spend your day working on other projects, hobbies or simply enjoying the 'free time', with evenings spent working. Alternatively, if you wish to cram in lots of work into a 3-day week, it's your prerogative as long as you meet your deadline and deliver quality work. However it is important that you are disciplined and motivated enough to work under your own steam. Leaving projects until the last minute can cause all sorts of problems, reduce the quality of the finished product and leave you feeling stressed and tired. CON: Work is Not Always Guaranteed One major consideration when going freelance is whether you'll be able to secure enough work to meet your financial needs. You might find that you have to build up a portfolio of clients, or if you're contracting there might be periods in between where you're searching for work. If you're considering freelancing then it is a good idea to either take on some part-time work whilst you build your client base, or have some savings in place as a contingency for any quiet periods. You should also keep your ear to the floor with regard to recessions and economic slowdown, as these can hit freelancers and contractors badly. PRO: Choosing Your Own Work XXXI As an established freelancer you may have a steady stream of work coming in, and as a result are able to pick and choose which projects you take on, which projects you sub-contract out, as well as which projects you simply pass on. In turn this can also affect your working hours, and gives you control over the type of work you do. If you find you particularly enjoy one subject area, you may be lucky enough to earn enough from accepting only the projects that you enjoy. Likewise, if you enjoy working on a variety of projects, you may be able manage the diversity of your work. CON: Taking Care of Your Accounts and Taxes As a freelancer, unless you have your very own accountant, you'll have to take care of your own bookkeeping duties and tax returns. Whether you've set yourself up as a sole trader or limited company, you'll need to be scrupulous with your accounting, as you could be audited at any given time. New freelancers must register as self-employed within around months of beginning freelance work. If you put off registering, you may find that you incur a penalty fine for not doing so. You must also make sure that you keep on top of your tax and National Insurance payments. Tax returns can take time and can sometimes prove complicated, however, if your bookkeeping and accounting is orderly, it will be much less of a daunting task. PRO/CON: You Are Your Own Boss Being your own boss definitely has its plus points - for instance, if you choose to take a few days holiday, you don't have to check with anyone else. There's no set time to get into work, and there's no clock watching, waiting for 5pm to come. You reap the rewards and praise for your work, and don't have to share your profits with anyone else. However, having no boss to report to or consult can also have its pitfalls. For one, you and you alone will be liable for your reputation and any problems that arise. Your reputation, once dented, may take a long time to recover if you've networked extensively. There will be no one to share the load when the going gets tough, and you may have to deal with problematic or angry clients on your own. Nevertheless, these are all hypothetical scenarios, and the chances are that if you are dedicated, passionate, motivated and well organised, then you will be able to a make a success out of a career in freelancing. Reading Task: Decide whether the following statement is true or false XXXII 1. As a freelancer, you should leave statement projects until the last minute. A. True B. False 2. A freelancer can choose to take holidays whenever he wants. A. True B. False 3. It is important for a freelancer to keep disciplined and motivated to work. A. True B. False 4. Freelance opportunities have rocketed in the past ten years. A. True B. False 5. A freelancer can not choose his work because his work is not guaranteed. A. True B. False Writing Task: Describe your dream job in the future in about 200 words. ……………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………… …… ……………………………………………………………………………… … ……………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………… …… ……………………………………………………………………………… … ……………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………… …… ……………………………………………………………………………… … XXXIII Appendix 17: Reading Text Read the passage and the task that follows Economic Reforms The July 13, 2000, signing of the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) between the U.S. and Vietnam was a significant milestone for Vietnam's economy. The BTA provided for Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status of Vietnamese goods in the U.S. market. Access to the U.S. market will allow Vietnam to hasten its transformation into a manufacturing-based, export-oriented economy. It would also concomitantly attract foreign investment to Vietnam, not only from the U.S. but also from Europe, Asia, and other regions. On November 7, 2006, Vietnam became WTO's 150th member, after 11 years of preparation, including years of negotiation. Vietnam's access to WTO should provide an important boost to Vietnam's economy and should help to ensure the continuation of liberalizing reforms and create options for trade expansion. However, WTO accession also brings serious challenges, requiring Vietnam's economic sectors to open the door to increased foreign competition. Although Vietnam's economy, which continues to expand at an annual rate in excess of percent, is one of the fastest growing in the world, the economy is XXXIV growing from an extremely low base, reflecting the crippling effect of the Second Indochina War (1954-75) and repressive economic measures introduced in its aftermath. Whether rapid economic growth is sustainable is open to debate, the government may not be able to follow through with plans to scale back trade restrictions and improving transparency are keys to gaining full membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) as hoped by mid-2006. The government plans to reform the state-owned sector by partially privatizing thousands of state-owned enterprises, including all five state-owned commercial banks. Reading Task: Choose the best answer 1. The Bilateral Trade Agreement A. boosted Vietnam's exports to the United States B. helped to improve the quality of Vietnamese goods C. brought about a complete tranformation in Vietnam's economy D. normalized the diplomate relations between two nations 2. WTO accession . A. gives serious challenges to Vietnamese's economy B. gives a much needed boost to the economy of Vietnam C. helps to increase foreign competition D. A&B are all correct 3. The word "crippling" in the last paragraph means A. destructive B. major C. dramatic D. remarkable 4. How can the government reform the state-owned sector? A. By reducing state intervention in business. B. By eliminating government subsidies. C. By privatizing state-owned enterprises. D. By including commercial banks. 5. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? A. Vietnam's economy is growing at an annual rate of percent, B. The BTA opened the door to increased international trade. C. That rapid economic growth is sustainable can not be certain. XXXV D. Vietnam's economic reform policy is mainly aimed at attracting foreign investment to Vietnam. Writing Task: Write about the recent changes in Vietnam economy recently (about 150 words). ……………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………… XXXVI Appendix 18: Reading Text Read the passage and the task that follows Tomorrow's World Aircraft capable of flying at ten times the speed of sound are being designed for the future. They will take off from an ordinary runway, climb through the atmosphere to the edge of their destination. One day in the 21st century, people will be landing in Tokyo just one hour after taking off from Heathrow Airport in London. Most of our energy comes from coal, oil and gas. One day these fossil fuels will all be consumed. We should be careful now how we use them and make plans for using less. Our attitudes to energy in the next 20 years will affect the entire planet for centuries. Generating electricity from the wind is a good, clean source of energy to come, but an intrusion on the landscape to others. One critic described them as "like toilet brushes disfiguring the countryside." Tropical forests are immensely rich. They may cover only six per cent of the earth's surface, but they support over two-thirds of the world's plant and animal species. Scientists believe that a quarter of a million plant species could be made extinct in our children's life time largely because of forest destruction. The forests XXXVII are a vital source of medicinal plants and so by destroying forests, we may be destroying the drugs which could cure cancer and other serious diseases. In the time it takes you to this exercise, four more species will have become extinct. More than three-quarters of the world's fresh water is locked in the ice-caps of the Artic and Antarctica. A small amount of this pure water would be sufficient to transform the dry areas of the world into fertile land. Engineers think that it would be possible to transport an iceberg of up to 10 kilometres in length using a tug the size of a supertanker to pull it. The Sahara desert has the advantage of being close to the sea and could be irrigated using water from the iceberg without the expense of long-distance pipelines. Pedestrians in the cities of the future could speed through the streets at up to 15 kilometres per hour just by standing still. A network of moving pavements could reduce travelling time and end rush-hour traffic jams forever. A Swiss company has invented a system of high speed moving pavements. Pedestrians will be able to step on and off them as easily as using an ordinary escalator. Most people would be happy to find a way to stay younger longer and scientists have been working on experiments with hormonal treatments and chemicals to reduce the oxygen content of the blood. But the most promising method of retarding age is through diet. Research has shown that a diet containing all the essential ingredients but with the calorie intake reduced to only three-fifths the normal level could lead to a lifespan of two-fifths longer. Reading Task: Choose the best answer 1. In the 21st century, humans will be living longer. Research has shown that the best way to delay the ageing process is by A. having hormonal treatment B. eating a careful and balanced diet C. drinking a magic potion made from plants in the Amazon forest XXXVIII 2. At some point in the next century, fossil fuels like coal, gas and oil will have all been consumed. Generating electricity from the wind is a good, clean source of energy but the main argument against it is that A. wind generators are ugly and intrusive on the landscape B. wind generators only work when it's windy C. birds confuse wind generators with trees 3. By the beginning of the 21st century, boats may be transporting enormous iceberg from the south Atlantic A. to prevent flooding due to global warming B. to replace the polluted water of other seas C. to irrigate the Sahara desert 4. In the future pedestrians will be getting around town more quickly . A. in hover-taxis B. on moving pavements C. on state-owned bicycles 5. It will be possible to get from London to Tokyo by space aircraft . A. in one hour B. in thirty minutes C. in three hours 6. Unless steps are taken to protect them, a quarter of a million plant species will have been made extinct in our children's lifetime, largely because of . A. pollution B. forest destruction C. changes in the climate XXXIX Writing Task: Write a prediction about the world in the future. Appendix 19: Reading Text Read the passage and the task that follows Sahara Desert The Sahara Desert is located in the northern portion of Africa and covers over 9,000,000 sq km or roughly 10% of the continent. It is bounded in the east by the Red Sea and it stretches west to the Atlantic Ocean. To the north, the Sahara Desert's northern boundary is the Mediterranean Sea, while in the south it ends at the Sahel, an area where the desert landscape transforms into a semi-arid tropical savanna. Since the Sahara Desert makes up nearly 10% of the African continent, the Sahara is often cited as the world's largest desert. This is not entirely true, however, as it is only the world's largest hot desert. Most of the water found in the Sahara today is in the form of seasonal or intermittent streams. The only permanent river in the desert is the Nile River that flows from Central Africa to the Mediterranean Sea. Other water in the Sahara is found in underground aquifers and in areas where this water reaches the surface, XL there are oases and sometimes small towns or settlements like the Bahariya Oasis in Egypt and Ghardaïa in Algeria. In addition to being extremely dry, the Sahara is also one of the hottest regions in the world. The average annual temperature for the desert is 30°C but during the hottest months temperatures can exceed 50°C, with the highest temperature ever recorded at 58°C in Aziziyah, Libya. Due to the high temperatures and arid conditions of the Sahara Desert, the plant life in the Sahara Desert is sparse and includes only around 500 species. These consist mainly of drought and heat resistant varieties and those adapted to salty conditions where there is sufficient moisture. The harsh conditions found in the Sahara Desert have also played a role in the presence of animal life in the Sahara Desert. In the central and driest part of the desert there are around 70 different animal species, 20 of which are large mammals like the spotted hyena. Other mammals include the gerbil, sand fox and Cape hare. Reptiles like the sand viper and the monitor lizard are present in the Sahara as well. It is believed that people have inhabited the Sahara Desert since 6000 BCE and earlier. Since then, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Greeks and Europeans have been among the peoples in the area. Today the Sahara's population is around million with the majority of the people living in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania and Western Sahara. Most of the people living in the Sahara today not live in cities; instead they are nomads who move from region to region throughout the desert. Because of this, there are many different nationalities and languages in the region but Arabic is most widely spoken. For those who live in cities or villages on fertile oases, crops and the mining of minerals like iron ore (in Algeria and Mauritania) and copper (in Mauritania) are important industries that have allowed population centers to grow. Reading Task: Decide whether the following statement is true or false XLI 1. The Nile River flows from Central Africa to the Mediterranean Sea. A. True B. False 2. The Sahara Desert is not only the largest desert but also the hottest desert in the world. A. True B. False 3. Gerbil, sand fox and cape hare are present in the Sahara. A. True B. False 4. Most of the people living in Sahara today are nomads who move from region to region throughout the desert. A. True B. False 5. The average temperature for the desert is 58oC in summer. A. True B. False Writing Task: What are three things that you think the most useful when traveling through a desert? (about 150 words) ……………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………… …… ……………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………… …… ……………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………… ………… ……………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………… …… XLII ……………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………… …… XLIII [...]... evaluation of supplementary reading materials for EFL students as well 1.2.3 The Influence of Reading on Writing Researchers and practitioners in the field of ESL/EFL teaching and learning have lately acknowledged the important role of reading in promoting language skills including writing skills Krashen (1989:109) claimed that Reading exposure is the primary means of developing language skills. " Then,... problems are the 12th form students at Ly Thuong Kiet High School faced with in writing? 2 To some extent can the application of reading supplementary materials have effects on students’ writing proficiency? 3 What are the possible suggestions to enhance students’ writing skills at Ly Thuong Kiet high school? 4 Scope of the study Due to the time constraints and content of a minor thesis, the research... students through supplementary reading materials Therefore, the researcher decided to conduct an investigation into the impact of applying supplementary reading materials to improve writing skill among high school students 1.3 Conclusion This chapter has firstly examined the definition of writing, rationale behind teaching writing and approaches to teaching writing Then, it illustrates the definition of supplementary. .. as an attempt to help improve writing skills of students 2 Aims of the Study This study aims to evaluate the effects of integrating supplementary reading materials in writing lessons of the 12 th form students at LTK high school Therefore, the researcher’s first objectives are to find out the difficulties the students are facing, and how much the new method helps improve their writing A number of lessons... investigate the effects of supplementary reading materials on writing proficiency of two 12th form classes at LTK high school in 9 weeks The researcher will employ 90 students and 5 teachers of English for collecting data 2 5 Significance of the study This study could be some help to teachers and students at LTK high school For teachers, they can improve their understanding of the relationship between reading. .. Pretest The students of two groups were asked to write on the same topic in 45 minutes in the class The purpose was that the result of the pretest might show whether the two groups’ English level was the same or not If the level of the students is a great variance, it would cause the difficulty in performing the experiment and in the interpretation of the result Post-test The students of these two groups... sentences and between sentences clear? 12 Have teachers set an appropriate task for the type of text, the level of difficulty and the need of their students, and have teachers taught them the necessary skills to cope with the task? Although Hetherington solely offered recommendations on evaluating reading materials for ESL students, the researcher upholds the opinion that this method of assessment can be... supplementary reading materials, the method of assessing suitable supplementary reading materials in foreign language teaching and learning, the relationship between reading and writing Studies on adopting reading materials to enhance writing skill are presented at last After having investigated the above theoretical issues, the researcher comes to conclusion that writing is a fundamental language skill... through the use of a reading- intowriting method The results suggested that the reading -into- writing method had a positive impact on the paragraph-level writing development of lowerintermediate EFL undergraduates While researching the effects of lexical input in second language writing at Chinese University of Hong Kong, Huang Zeping (2012) also concluded that "corpora can be a useful resource for writing. .. pieces of writing which help them to improve their language abilities and to build writing schemata Through writing they acquire the habit of expressing our ideas in a clear, correct and coherent way, fulfilling a double purpose: to be a medium of communication with others and a means of personal intellectual growth Later researchers have acknowledged that reading has actually become the basis of writing . HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES TRẦN THỊ CẨM VÂN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE 12 th FORM STUDENTS’ WRITING SKILLS THROUGH. out the study titled An investigation into the improvements of the 12 th form students’ writing skills through supplementary reading materials at Lý 1 Thường Kiệt High School, Hà Nam” as an. POST-GRADUATE STUDIES TRẦN THỊ CẨM VÂN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE 12 th FORM STUDENTS’ WRITING SKILLS THROUGH SUPPLEMENTARY READING MATERIALS AT LÝ THƯỜNG KIỆT HIGH SCHOOL,