1,720,960 research outputs found
Register competence in academic writing: a case study of Third-Level English Students at the University of Venda, Limpopo Province
No full textMA (English)Department of English, Media Studies and LinguisticThe use of unsuitable registers has been a critical concern with students at universities,
colleges, and in English Second Language (ESL) contexts. While the appropriate use of
registers is essential for coherent spoken and written discourses. However, students in
ESL contexts seem to encounter difficulties in the use of appropriate registers due to
various factors. The purpose of this study was to explore register competence among
third-level students specialising in English Didactics at the University of Venda. The
participants were 15 third-level students in the academic year of 2020. This study
employed a case study design with a focus on the qualitative research method and a
critical discourse and thematic analysis were employed as methods of data analysis. This
study adopts a prescriptive grammar in the evaluation of the register competence. The
findings of this study reveal that the register knowledge and its suitable usage among the
selected third year-level student educators appeared to be an obstacle to their academic
writing due to the variations in the use of the five distinct registers, namely, static, casual,
intimate, informal, and formal. Furthermore, the following features were present in student
educators’ written work, namely, passive voice, lack of parallel structure, colloquialism,
slang, use of personal pronouns, and phrasal verbs which are mostly considered
inappropriate features for academic writing. Academic writing should be given extensive
attention in English curriculum content such that the students master the appropriate
writing style and register usage. The pedagogical implications from this study are that the
lecturers teaching English second language should enlighten the student educators with
appropriate knowledge to enable them to use registers appropriately and advance
students’ understanding of differences in the English language registers. This would pave
the way for possible research arenas, and strategies to mitigate the inappropriate use of
registers.National Research Foundation (NRF
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Exploring the impact of the Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP) as a crucial motivating landing space: a study on student transition in higher education
Full text linkThe smooth transition of students into higher education is crucial for laying a strong foundation for success at the university level. This paper investigated students’ perceptions and responses to enrolling in an Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP) and lecturers’ efforts to motivate students and understand the factors that may hinder student success. To achieve this, the research utilised a mixed methods approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative dimensions. The researchers purposefully selected 150 ECP students enrolled in the 2024 academic year. Data collection involved the use of free listing techniques and semi-structured interviews, which allowed for a comprehensive understanding of the students\u27 experiences. The collected research data was organised, transcribed, and analysed using thematic analysis, ensuring a systematic and in-depth exploration of the data. Additionally, the findings were statistically analysed using Microsoft Excel to compare the challenges faced based on gender and age, providing a nuanced understanding of the factors influencing student transition. The students, while enthusiastic about their university experience, also expressed feelings of being lost and overwhelmed during their transition. Many students, particularly those who linked their early academic performance to future opportunities, felt unprepared for independent study at the university, which was distressing. Ignoring such experiences and the lack of a sense of belonging can hinder students\u27 academic success. Therefore, it is crucial for lecturers to identify students’ emotions early and implement supportive strategies, such as a well-planned orientation program, recognition, and rewards for high-achieving students. The paper recommends strategies and techniques that should be implemented to facilitate a smoother transition for students into higher education
A Code-Switching as a tactical approach to enhance learner engagement with intricate concepts in oral english presentations
No full textThe South African English language curriculum states that by the time students reach Grade 7, they should have mastered certain English language skills that enable them to communicate effectively at both personal and educational levels. Therefore, a study was conducted to investigate the potential benefits of code-switching in improving students\u27 oral participation in English classes. The study took place in a primary school in the Malamulele East circuit and involved all fifty Grade 7 students. The students\u27 oral presentations were part of their formative assessment. Researchers used a rigorous methodology, including convenience sampling, to select participants, with the first ten girls and the first ten boys considered for the study. Data was collected during presentations, where each student had an opportunity to present. The qualitative method was used, with audio recordings and observations as data collection tools. Content analysis was employed to analyse the data collected from the Grade 7 students. Based on the students\u27 performance in their oral presentations, code-switching seemed to help them to effectively communicate complex concepts in their primary language when there were no equivalent English words. The findings of this study showed that code-switching enhances students\u27 oral communication skills and makes learning more enjoyable. students achieve their communication goals through code-switching, offering the audience a hopeful outlook on the potential benefits of this approach
Exploring the divine: a deeper look into religious motifs in Siswati poetry
Full text linkThis paper explores the intricate interplay of divine themes within Siswati poetry, emphasizing how religious motifs shape cultural identity and expression. Siswati, a language rich in oral traditions, serves as a vessel for spiritual narratives that reflect the beliefs and values of the Swazi people. Through a critical analysis of selected poems, this study examines the representation of divine figures, the use of metaphors drawn from religious texts, and the incorporation of indigenous spirituality.
This paper explores the intricate interplay of divine themes within Siswati poetry, emphasizing how religious motifs shape cultural identity and expression. Siswati, a language rich in oral traditions, serves as a vessel for spiritual narratives that reflect the beliefs and values of the Swazi people. Through a critical analysis of selected poems, this study examines the representation of divine figures, the use of metaphors drawn from religious texts, and the incorporation of indigenous spirituality. The research seeks to understand how these elements convey both personal and communal experiences of the divine while addressing broader societal issues such as morality, justice, and resilience. Ultimately, this exploration reveals profound ways in which Siswati poetry articulates the spiritual landscape of Swazi culture, inviting readers to reconsider the relationship between literature and faith in a contemporary context. Additionally, the analysis of religious inspiration in Siswati\u27s poetry touches on themes of uncertainty, religion, and God. These ideas often arise when considering the afterlife, supernatural powers, and the forces that govern our daily existence. The research aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of religious themes. Additionally, a text-oriented method allows for the literary work to be revealed through the placement and diction of the poem
From high-school sciences to university accounting in South Africa: how prior learning affects students’ success: Prior learning affects Students success
No full textEnrolling students in accounting programs based on their proficiency in English, Mathematics, and Accounting is a prevalent practice in many South African institutions of higher learning. However, certain institutions admit students into accounting programs based solely on their proficiency in English and Mathematics. This study posits that such students encounter challenges in acclimating to the accounting science milieu, consequently impeding their academic success. The research draws from the assessment of 112 first-year BCom (Bachelor of Commerce) Accounting Sciences students during the 2023 academic year. The findings affirm that students enrolled based on competency in Accounting, English, and Mathematics outperform those enrolled solely based on English and Mathematics competency. This underscores the necessity for further investigation into the determinants of success among students in accounting programs. Nonetheless, the study corroborates that self-determination and proactivity are significant contributors to success, notwithstanding students\u27 lack of prior exposure to accounting principles
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Full text linkWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
- …
