Making writing invisible : a study into the complexities of standard written English acquisition in Higher Education
Higher education in the UK has changed from a system catering for an elite, to one which aims to improve the potential of over 40% of young people (Clark, 2003). Whilst not rejecting the idea of education for its own sake, this thesis suggests that one of the purposes of this mass higher education is to fit students for employment. It maintains that for students studying English and Media, this purpose includes the ability to produce Standard Written English. It examines the complexities involved in producing English and Media graduates who have this competence and explores the power relationships involved in teaching and assessing writing. The theories of Bourdieu are used to give a perspective on the use of Standard Written English as an important aspect of cultural capital which distinguishes members of the educated discourse community. Using written work and interview data from fifteen English and Media undergraduates at one university, plus written tutor feedback and comments, it considers the reasons why students might not meet the criteria set. It challenges the notion that because spelling, punctuation and grammar are âsurface featuresâ, achieving competence in using them is easy or relatively
Hill, Patricia Ann
LB2300 Higher Education ; PE English
Making writing invisible : a study into the complexities of standard written English acquisition in Higher Education. Higher education in the UK has changed from a system catering for an elite, to one which aims to improve the potential of over 40% of young people (Clark, 2003). Whilst not rejecting the idea of education for its own sake, this thesis suggests that one of the purposes of this mass higher education is to fit students for employment. It maintains that for students studying English and Media, this purpose includes the ability to produce Standard Written English. It examines the complexities involved in producing English and Media graduates who have this competence and explores the power relationships involved in teaching and assessing writing. The theories of Bourdieu are used to give a perspective on the use of Standard Written English as an important aspect of cultural capital which distinguishes members of the educated discourse community. Using written work and interview data from fifteen English and Media undergraduates at one university, plus written tutor feedback and comments, it considers the reasons why students might not meet the criteria set. It challenges the notion that because spelling, punctuation and grammar are âsurface featuresâ, achieving competence in using them is easy or relatively
making write invisible study complexity standard write_english acquisition higher_education higher_education change system cater elite aim_improve potential young_people clark whilst reject_idea education sake suggest purpose mass high_education fit student employment maintains student study english media purpose include ability produce standard written english examines complexity involve produce english media graduate competence explore power relationship involve teach assess writing theory bourdieu use give perspective use standard written english important_aspect cultural_capital distinguishes member educate discourse community using write work interview_data fifteen english media university plus write tutor feedback comment considers reason student might meet criterion set challenge_notion spelling punctuation grammar surface feature achieve competence use easy relatively