Student’s Perceptions on Academic Writing Skills at Postgraduate Level in Public Sector Institutions of Pakistan

Abstract

There is no ambiguity regarding the importance of English writing proficiency in non-native academic context. The academic writing skill is considered as indispensable knack at post graduate level in Pakistani Academia. But then again, it becomes a hard nut to crack for the higher education level learners to acquire it. Since English is considered as Second Language (ESL) in our perspective, therefore it has its own complications through which our learners go through to complete their professional degrees. In order to find out the core hitches and hurdles confronted by the ESL learners while writing Research Reports and Article, an electronic survey study was planned by the researchers. Therefore, through this survey study it was intended primarily to get actual information about the problematic academic writing areas of ESL learners. It was also planned to get the participants’ point of views regarding their specific necessities in writing academically and technically, to be addressed in their teaching modules. One hundred participants from different public sector institutions participated in this survey. The researcher in the present study used, Cai’s questionnaire (2017). It was adapted with few additions and deletions. The basic gears of the questionnaire dealt with ‘Lacks’, Wants’ and ‘Necessities’ of ESL learners. The numerical and qualitative data extracted through this survey study was further analysed. Statistical analysis of quantitative scores was done in percentages, whereas the thematic analysis of the qualitative data was carried out to draw final findings with perfect precision. Based on the survey findings, major linguistic and syntactic skills were needed to be focused and addressed. In addition, interactive pedagogical practices and multiple instructional strategies were suggested and recommended strongly. This research has its own implications for designing and developing a more appropriate and more compatible pedagogical module for teaching Academic writing. Thus the study provides better picture of learner’s needs and clear outline of the objectives to be kept in mind for curriculum and module development simultaneously.