Writing instructional texts in science : Evaluating the effectiveness of design principles in a second language context

ISBN-13: 9783639152227 / Angielski / Miękka / 2009 / 324 str.

Wendy Dilys Coetzee

Opis

Non English-speaking Science students studying in English often have difficulty understanding written course material, particularly in distance education. Course writers should employ reliable design principles for instructional texts. This book deals with students' language and cultural barriers, writers' awareness of their problems and the effectiveness of design principles in improving understanding.The findings show the effects of using design principles to modify science course material which improved student understanding of the modified texts. The design principles identified are: make the meaning of problematic words transparent; provide accurately formulated descriptions; explain and acknowledge cultural and historical allusions; clarify cause and effect relationships; use appropriate text structuring devices; use elliptical expressions and reference cohesion judiciously; make strong links between text and diagrams; avoid complex syntactic structures; ensure uniformity of description. This is for writers of scientific texts, instructional designers, editors, writing workshop facilitators and writers of instructional writing guidelines.

O autorze

Wendy D. Coetzee, PhD (Educational Technology, OUUK). Head of
English, MEDUNSA, College of Science Co-ordinator, University of
Witwatersrand and Teamwrite Coordinator, Vista University.
Currently external examiner, Linguistics Department and academic
editor, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,
UNISA.