An Empirical Study of the Effect of the Use of Weblogs on College English Writing

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to introduce blogging into a medical university ESL writing and to examine the effect of its use for improving students’ writing ability. The study also sought to examine ESL students’ perceptions regarding the implementation of blogs in the ESL writing. Survey research and content analysis approaches were used to collect data from thirty participants. Data analysis was performed using qualitative research. Blogging proved to be an effective tool for the writing instruction: by the use of Weblogs in college English writing, learners’ language skills were improved; because genre approach was applied to this study, learners have learned different forms of writing, which would be useful in their future life for various demands; comments from audience enriched learners’ thinking, and they widened their horizons and became more imaginative; students’ motivation of ESL writing and collaborative consciousness were both largely promoted.