A Study Of English Composition Writing As Homework For Senior High School Students Based On The "Topic Focused,Thinking Motivated,But Language Narrowly Controlled" Practice Model

Writing is an effective way to show human beings’ infinite creativity.In the process of learning English,composition writing ability and the writing level can show a student’s comprehensive performance of mastery and application of this foreign language.Therefore more educators begin to keep a watchful eye on them.Homework is a window to observe students’ learning achievement.It is an efficient and easy method to help teachers obtain students’ feedback on their communicative competence and language proficiency in the teaching process.Meanwhile optimal homework promotes students to consolidate and enhance their learned knowledge.Teachers can make appropriate adjustment to their teaching based on the understanding of students’proficiency level.At present,studies on English writing teaching and English homework in senior high schools respectively have made great achievement,however,the field for research on English composition writing as homework in senior high schools still need to be explored.Based on the framework of four types of practice by Leo van Lier in his 3A(Awareness,Autonomy,Authenticity)interaction theory and in combination with the procedures of scaffolding instruction,the author developed a homework model,namely,"topic focused,thinking motivated,but language narrowly controlled"practice model and carried out an empirical study in the actual situation of senior high students’ English composition writing as homework in terms of its assignment and feedback.In order to explore an optimal type of practice in English composition writing as homework and then promote students’ writing competence,the study intends to solve the following questions:1.What are high school students’ attitudes towards the "topic focused,thinking motivated,but language narrowly controlled" practice model when English composition writing is assigned as homework?2.What are the advantages of the "topic focused,thinking motivated,but language narrowly controlled" practice model,compared with traditional "focused and controlled" practice model when English composition writing is involved as homework?3.Could the application of the "topic focused,thinking motivated,but language narrowly controlled" practice model as English composition writing homework help students improve English composition writing competence?The subjects in this study are 80 students in two paralleled classes of grade one in a senior high school of Dalian.There are 40 students in the control class who continued to use the traditional "focused and controlled" practice model.Meanwhile the 40 students in the experimental class adopted the "topic focused,thinking motivated,but language narrowly controlled" practice model when English composition writing is assigned as homework.For each writing homework,the two classes shared the same titles of compositions.The instruments for this study include a pre-test and a post-test,sample compositions,questionnaires and an interview.According to the results of the study,compared with traditional "focused and controlled" practice model,students can complete English writing homework in a good quality through using the "topic focused,thinking motivated,but language narrowly controlled" practice model when English composition writing is assigned as homework.Meanwhile the new kind of practice can inspire students writing interests.Under teachers’ proper guidance,students can be motivated to think in different ways and they can learn how to write then enjoy the process.During the experiment,students in the experimental class communicated and interacted with peers to achieve evaluation and reflection.Meanwhile,the "topic focused,thinking motivated,but language narrowly controlled" practice model can help students improve English composition scores and competence.The significance of this study could be summarized from two aspects.On one hand,it’s useful to inspire students’ interests in English writing and motivate their thinking capacity.On the other hand,it can improve senior high school students’English composition scores and writing competence through improving and perfect English composition writing homework assignment under current condition.