Academic
Writing – A Handbook for International Students (Bailey, 2006) is a book specially designed for
foreign students taking courses in
English-speaking countries. It is intended to enhance writing skills in the
academic world through a clear layout, consisting of
four parts, in turn divided into units. Each part broaches different
aspects of the writing process.
In Part 1, the author explores topics related
to the process of writing, namely producing an introduction, the main body and a
conclusion, together with rewriting and proof-reading. Particularly important
is this section as it also analyses the necessary steps to be taken before
writing, such as selecting keypoints, collecting information, note making and
combining and acknowledging sources.
Parts 2 and 3 provide students with elements
for writing – argument, cohesion, cause and effect, among others – and examine
accuracy through the correct use of grammar, vocabulary and punctuation. Especially
noteworthy is the fact that these items have been listed alphabetically so that
students can work on the points they are weak at, which caters for individual
learning styles.
Part 4 consists of models of texts students may
be asked to write since the book aims at developing students’ skills for
written assessment. As it is claimed in the introduction, “Writing essays and
dissertations can be a major concern for overseas students studying at
English-medium colleges and universities” (Bailey, 2006, p.i), thus English for
Academic Purposes material represent valuable guidance for them.
Nevertheless, it should be noted that this book
has certain drawbacks. The units related to letters and CVs in Part 4 could
have been omitted as these types of text do not represent a major concern for
students expected to write dissertations or argumentative essays at university.
Despite the usefulness of the units mentioned, students will not put them into
practice within the context under discussion.
Furthermore, Bailey (2006) offers
students the chance of doing some activities to practise the different items
developed, and he includes a key to these activities at the end of the book.
Notwithstanding, this section features mostly suggested answers, which might
not be conclusive enough and, as a consequence, it renders the material
unsuitable for self-study.
To conclude, through his work, Bailey (2006)
provides students with significant background for writing. Nonetheless,
non-native English-speaking university undergraduates might find themselves
overwhelmed when dealing with the production of written assignments, together
with the analysis of academic writing. Therefore, it is advisable that they are
aided by a teacher who can guide them in the scrutiny of the contents.
References
Bailey,
Stephen (2006). Academic Writing: A
handbook for international students (2nd ed.). Taylor & Francis
e-library. Retrieved October 2012 from http://npu.edu.ua/!e-book/book/djvu/A/iif_kgpm_t27.pdf
.
