WebQuest to Scaffold L2 Writing at the Tertiary Level
Agus Dwi Priyanto
This paper is based on my study of 10 Indonesian post-graduate students writing a 300-word essay in pairs, using resources from the internet. The task itself was designed following a template from WebQuest (Dodge, 1997). This design allows learners to exploit authentic materials and the technology of the internet for their language learning. The data for the study was collected through observations and interviews with the participants. The discussion focuses on how tertiary L2 learners get scaffolding from WebQuest so that they are able to write a good argumentative essay. The study shows that WebQuest can facilitate learners’ collaboration by encouraging them to share their skills with each other. In this study, it was found that learners tend to discuss almost every word or sentence before typing their outline or draft. Besides, with WebQuest, learners get assistance by finding more arguments to support their opinions. The resulting essays also have good arguments taken from online sources. This study is consistent with some previous studies (Gruba, 2004; Marco, 2002; Meskill, 1999, 2005; Storch, 2001).
------- ---- -------
Priyanto, A. D. (2006, February). Webquest
to scaffold L2 writing at the tertiary level. Paper presented
at the 6th International Conference, ITB Bandung, Indonesia.
Website: www.geocities.com/eltindonesia
Email: eltindonesia@yahoo.com