Data commentary in science writing
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Lene Nordrum
Abstract
Data commentary, the verbal comment on visual material, is a complex area in science writing; yet, few studies in academic writing focus on it. This chapter presents an approach to the teaching and learning of data commentary in ESP writing within the science disciplines involving direct application of a small, specialized corpus of data commentaries drawn from published research articles and master’s theses, all annotated for rhetorical moves. We exemplify how formative self-assessment practices of data commentaries can be developed from corpus-informed computer-assisted learning activities combining top-down discourse analysis with bottom-up corpus analysis, and outline a methodology for self-assessment practices. Our approach illustrates how a specialized corpus and purposefully crafted learning activities can assist students in continuous self-assessment practices. Such facilitation is of crucial value today as pedagogical and curricular developments in science education increasingly emphasize students’ awareness of communicative practices.
Abstract
Data commentary, the verbal comment on visual material, is a complex area in science writing; yet, few studies in academic writing focus on it. This chapter presents an approach to the teaching and learning of data commentary in ESP writing within the science disciplines involving direct application of a small, specialized corpus of data commentaries drawn from published research articles and master’s theses, all annotated for rhetorical moves. We exemplify how formative self-assessment practices of data commentaries can be developed from corpus-informed computer-assisted learning activities combining top-down discourse analysis with bottom-up corpus analysis, and outline a methodology for self-assessment practices. Our approach illustrates how a specialized corpus and purposefully crafted learning activities can assist students in continuous self-assessment practices. Such facilitation is of crucial value today as pedagogical and curricular developments in science education increasingly emphasize students’ awareness of communicative practices.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Learner corpora in language testing and assessment 1
-
New corpus resources, tools and methods
- The Marburg Corpus of Intermediate Learner English (MILE) 13
- Avalingua 35
- Data commentary in science writing 59
- First steps in assigning proficiency to texts in a learner corpus of computer-mediated communication 85
-
Data-driven approaches to the assessment of proficiency
- The English Vocabulary Profile as a benchmark for assigning levels to learner corpus data 115
- A multidimensional analysis of learner language during story reconstruction in interviews 141
- Article use and criterial features in Spanish EFL writing 163
- Tense and aspect errors in spoken learner English 191
- Authors 217
- Index 219
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Learner corpora in language testing and assessment 1
-
New corpus resources, tools and methods
- The Marburg Corpus of Intermediate Learner English (MILE) 13
- Avalingua 35
- Data commentary in science writing 59
- First steps in assigning proficiency to texts in a learner corpus of computer-mediated communication 85
-
Data-driven approaches to the assessment of proficiency
- The English Vocabulary Profile as a benchmark for assigning levels to learner corpus data 115
- A multidimensional analysis of learner language during story reconstruction in interviews 141
- Article use and criterial features in Spanish EFL writing 163
- Tense and aspect errors in spoken learner English 191
- Authors 217
- Index 219
