Blog 16 Chapter 1 of Research

                                                                 Chapter 1

                                                          Introduction

Importance of study:

            The acquisition of language is a social process that includes comprehension, verbal ability and writing.  The mastering of these areas relies greatly on the relationship established between the instructor and the learner.  In order for writing tutors to assist college students in enhancing their writing skills, techniques and strategies should be developed that are individualized for each client.  In the case of ESL students, observing their personal cues such as body language, verbal responses and cultural attitudes towards writing during WC sessions can help established a foundation for future tutoring sessions.  In the following study, ESL students will be observed during a regular writing center session and the latter cues will be documented.  These cues will be analyzed and the data will be evaluated to determine if these cues effect the establishment of authority during a writing session. 

Statement of the problem:

The purpose of the study is to determine if body language, verbal responses and/or cultural attitudes of ESL students toward writing have an impact on the establishment of authority during a tutoring writing session.

Hypothesis:

The establishment of authority during a tutoring writing session is determined by body language, verbal responses and cultural attitudes cues of ESL students.  

Research Questions:

The following questions are address in this study:

1.       Did body language from ESL students impact the authority established during the tutoring writing session?

2.      Did verbal responses from ESL students impact the authority established during the tutoring writing session?

3.      Did cultural attitudes toward writing from ESL students impact the authority established during the tutoring writing session?

Definition of terms:

1.       Rhetoric

2.      Cross cultural

3.      Contrastive rhetoric

4.      Cultural presuppositions

Limitation of Study:

Problems encountered in the study:

1.       The study reflects the results of  ____ observations and cannot be used to make a general observation.

2.