| Based on English Teaching Syllabus for English Majors enacted in2000, manyresearchers have studied English writing and English writing teaching. However, fewresearchers are conducted on English writing course-books, especially, basic Englishwriting course-books (BEWCs) of English majors. This thesis studies twelve BEWCsfor English majors by addressing three research questions below:1.What aretheEnglishmajors learningneedsin thebasic Englishwritingcourse?2. In terms of the external, internal and overall evaluations, what are the merits ofBEWCs for English majors? To what extent do they meet the learners learning needs?3. What are the existing problems of BEWCs of English majors in China? Whatare the reasons for and solutions to the problems?The study takes McDonough&Shaw s (2004) evaluation scheme andDudley-Evans&St John s (1998) framework as a theoretical foundation.288sophomores of English majors were surveyed and five basic English writing teacherswere interviewed. Based on analysis of the learners learning needs and the teachers feedbacks, the thesis concludes as follows:1. English majors learning needs in basic writing course are mainly to graspsome basic writing knowledge, writing skills and strategies, to know different genresand to write about various topics to lay the foundation for future major development.2. Analyzed from external, internal and overall evaluations, the main merits ofBEWCs are reasonable compiling ideas and abundant contents. Guided under theTeaching Syllabus, these course-books have a guiding significance for English writingteaching and can basically meet the learners needs.3. The main problems of BEWCs include the serious overlapping in contents, lack ofmulti-faced materials, limitation of topics in exercises and old-fashioned exercises designs.The probable reasons for the problems include the writers unfamiliarity with thelearners learning needs and course-book development, and their indifference toexercises designs.Based on the above study, the thesis proposes some possible solutions to theproblems and suggestions for compiling the future BEWCs. |
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