Proceedings of the Twelfth Conference on Applied Linguistics (CONAPLIN 2019)

The Effects of Topic Familiarity on Eleventh Graders’ Writing Performance

Authors
Erly Mulfias Yuli, Sisilia Setiawati Halimi
Corresponding Author
Sisilia Setiawati Halimi
Available Online 9 April 2020.
DOI
10.2991/assehr.k.200406.012How to use a DOI?
Keywords
cause-effect text, learning to write, recount text, topic familiarity, writing performance
Abstract

This study investigated the effects of topic familiarity on eleventh graders’ writing performance in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context. The students were assigned to finish two writing tasks with topics that they were familiar with. One of these familiar topics had been experienced by the students, while the other one had not. The purpose was to find out whether topic familiarity would result in the same quality performance in two different writing genres, namely cause-effect and recount. This study also investigated the students’ perception of the use of topic familiarity in writing. The study was conducted for about four months and involved 34 eleventh graders and an English teacher. This study used a mixed-method (qualitative and quantitative), and data were collected by using questionnaires, direct observation, and students’ writing post-tasks. Students’ writing tasks were assessed using an analytic scoring rubric. Findings show that a familiar topic with personal experience significantly affected students’ vocabulary production. Furthermore, the students had a positive perception of writing tasks with topic familiarity. Based on this finding, teachers need to be more selective in choosing topics for their students’ writing tasks.

Copyright
© 2020, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

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Volume Title
Proceedings of the Twelfth Conference on Applied Linguistics (CONAPLIN 2019)
Series
Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research
Publication Date
9 April 2020
ISBN
978-94-6252-952-6
ISSN
2352-5398
DOI
10.2991/assehr.k.200406.012How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2020, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

Cite this article

TY  - CONF
AU  - Erly Mulfias Yuli
AU  - Sisilia Setiawati Halimi
PY  - 2020
DA  - 2020/04/09
TI  - The Effects of Topic Familiarity on Eleventh Graders’ Writing Performance
BT  - Proceedings of the Twelfth Conference on Applied Linguistics (CONAPLIN 2019)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 57
EP  - 62
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.200406.012
DO  - 10.2991/assehr.k.200406.012
ID  - Yuli2020
ER  -