Dr David Oakey, Lauren Hughes and Yaoyi Zhang discuss phrases, creativity and formulaicity in academic writing
Is the teaching of phrases in academic writing an essential step to fluency and appropriacy or does it prevent learners from developing their own voice as writers?
On 22nd November 2019, Dr David Oakey and two of his final year students, Lauren Hughes (English) and Yaoyi Zhang (Communication and Media) analysed the confusing number of phrases suggested for teaching academic writing, comparing those specified in EAP coursebooks with those found by EAP researchers. They evaluated form and function in order to help academic writing teachers choose appropriate phrases for their teaching context. The paper concluded with a lively debate on the question of creativity vs formulaicity in the teaching of academic writing.
