Cultures of Writing: An Ethnographic Comparison of L1 and L2 University Writing/Language Programs

DWIGHT ATKINSON, VAI RAMANATHAN

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

111 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nonnative‐speaking (NNS) undergraduates at U.S. universities frequently proceed from ESL or English for academic purposes writing classes directly into freshman composition. Although this sequence of events may be an effective means of getting students into the academic writing mainstream, there have been some suggestions to the contrary. Taking an ethnographic approach, this study describes the contrasting cultural norms of academic writing and academic writing instruction at a large U.S. university. It then compares these differing viewpoints in order to identify difficulties that NNSs might experience in proceeding from the former program to the latter. 1995 TESOL International Association

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)539-568
Number of pages30
JournalTESOL Quarterly
Volume29
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1995
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Education
  • Language and Linguistics
  • Linguistics and Language

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