Enhancing Writing Skills of the Undergraduates: Implications for Curriculum Design in Sri Lankan context

Abstract

We present findings from a mixed-methods study of undergraduates’ attitudes toward written communication in their third academic year at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura’s Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce (FMSC). The undergraduates in the Department of Commerce were asked to complete an online survey on their attitudes about mastering writing. The research method was descriptive. After analyzing the theoretical underpinnings of attitudes and writing, a survey was created, piloted, and given to 25 randomly chosen third-year FMSC undergraduates. Only 22 of the sample members answered every query. To find out why the 22 participants desired to learn writing in the FMSC, a questionnaire with 10 closed-ended questions was sent, and a series of in-depth, semi-structured interviews with all 22 participants was conducted. The findings indicate that the majority (92%) of the participants need to improve their speaking skills not their writing skills in the university. Many (95.5%) valued it as a basic requirement to pursue their higher education in the future. There was a considerable level of preference (90%) to master English writing skills online than practising it in the physical classroom. However, only 19% of the participants mentioned that they have more than three hours a week to practise writing skills. Findings further indicated that about 20% of the sample never use library resources. The above findings may be helpful in designing English writing courses for undergraduates in the Departments of Commerce in Sri Lankan universities.