This presentation shows which writing skills are endorsed in ESP (English for Specific Purposes).

1. Writing Skills
in ESP
Syeda Fatima Tuz Zahra

2. What is ESP?
● ESP (English for Specific
Purposes) is not a particular
kind of language or
methodology, but rather an
approach to language learning
whereby the content and
method are based on the
learners particular needs to
learn the language
(Hutchinson, and Waters,
1987).

3. Needs Analysis
● In designing an ESP course it is
imperative to carryout a needs
analysis to determine the
specific reasons for learning the
language (Hutchinson, and
Waters, 1987,) or to specify
exactly, what students need to
achieve through the medium of
English (Robinson 1991).

4. Principles
● Conduct a needs analysis to determine the learners purpose for learning
the language (Nunan, D. 1989)
● Conduct a language analysis of authentic data e.g. reports, to determine
the features of the genre of the text required for the ESP context.
● Decide on an approach to the teaching of writing which will suit the
learners writing purpose and text type.

5. Principles contd..
● Ensure that the
overall activities focus
on promoting the type
of writing outlined in
the information
gathering process.

6. Instructor’s Role
● Helping students to
enhance their vocabulary
● Encouraging them
● Taking regular quizzes to
monitor their progress
● Designing activities
● Finding relevant topics for
students to write on
● Proper planning of revision
strategies

7. Troubles
● Technical Subjects, Not Humanities
● “NOT GOOD IN ENGLISH”
● Comprehension
● Complexity of ideas
● Word length / number of syllables. sentence
structure
● Use of idioms, expressions
● Use of tone/attitude in text
● Student’s own prejudices or assumptions
about topic interfere

8. Way Out
● Texts as models
● Taking Notes
● Vocabulary building
● Grammar
● Highlighting
● Book marks

9. Genre Analysis and
Writing
● Genre is the form of your writing. A
medium is the way in which a piece
of writing is delivered.
● Genre analysis is a new approach to
discourse and text analysis in ESP. Its
research findings have established
common rhetorical patterns in academic
writing. Therefore genre analysis has an
important role in developing both writing
and reading skills.

10. Step by Step Guide to Writing
● Start with what you’re writing about (what it is).
● Explain the purpose.
● Describe what it looks like or is made of.
● Give the steps of the process in a logical order;
e.g., chronological, spatial, etc.
● Use useful linking/transition vocabulary.
● Use examples from everyday life that will help
your audience understand the process more
easily.
● Use relevant verb tenses, process phrases, and
register suitable to audience.

11. Reading and
Writing

12. Advantages
● Promoting self-focus on “technical‟ vocabulary
● Feeling of “owning‟ vocabulary
● Becoming more independent in noticing
features
● Engaging with more interesting and useful
activities for reading
● Using these skills in their own writing
● Feeling of improvement with greater ease of
reading
● Increased motivation