The influence of writing workshops on First-Year English Majored Students' Writing Skill - A Study at a University in Vietnam

Abstract

This research investigates the effectiveness of writing workshops in enhancing the writing proficiency of first-year university students at Thang Long University. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the workshops' impact. A total of 167 students participated in the study, undergoing pre-test and post-test assessments to measure improvements in organization, clarity, grammar, and argumentation using standardized rubrics. Quantitative results from paired samples t-tests revealed significant improvements across all assessed aspects of writing, with mean differences indicating enhanced writing skills post-intervention. Qualitative data, collected through interviews, focus groups, reflective journals, and observations, corroborated these findings and provided deeper insights into the specific components of the workshops that were most effective.