Investigating the impacts of IQ-write online writing program toward ESL students' attitude and interest in learning academic writing

The study investigates the use of an online writing program known as IQ-Write program designed to help ESL students learn academic writing. This case study was conducted for a period of eight weeks among eighteen ESL Tertiary level students at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor. The students were taking an ESL English proficiency course which includes an academic writing module. IQ-Write program is a supplementary online writing program which was developed based on the target students’ writing needs analysis. The program which contains an eight-unit online academic writing module uses the Learning Management System known as EDU 2.0. The research tools include a set of survey questionnaires, students’ interview questions, and a reflective journal. The findings indicate that the IQ-Write program helped to change the students’ perspective and negative attitude toward learning academic writing. Moreover, the program also enhanced the students’ interest toward writing academic essays which helped them to improve their academic writing ability.

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