Lead supervisor:
Dr Katy Jones 
Other supervisor(s):
- Dr David Schonthal
Start date: October 2024 (Full time)
Award: General
Subject Pathway:
Linguistics and Bilingualism
Thematic Cluster:
Language, Learning and Behaviour Cluster
Mind the Gap! An investigation into the transition between upper-secondary and university learning environments in Wales, with a focus on essay-based academic writing practices.
My research investigates the perceptions of academic writing in upper-secondary and university education institutions in Wales. Examples of upper-secondary institution include A-Level colleges and further education colleges. The objective of this research is to assess the transition between these two types of education institution. Of course, 'transition' can refer to a number of changes in the student's academic life; the term could be applied to the processes of moving away from home, making new friends, and adjusting to a higher level of education, to name but a few examples. In my research, I consider 'transition' in connection with the academic writing aspect of a student's education.
I am researching this topic from an academic literacies perspective, which, according to Lea and Street (1998), considers academic writing in relation to the culture and context of the writer (p. 158). In particular, they research 'the nature of student writing within institutional practices, power relations and identities’ (Lea and Street 1998, p. 158). The academic literacies approach is particularly relevant to my research, as I will be seeking individual perspectives of students and teaching staff in terms of how they perceive academic writing. Data will consist of published writing guidelines, questionnaire surveys, and semi-structured interviews.