M.Ed. Level Students’ Beliefs and Practices on Academic Writing for Their Career Development

Abstract

This study entitled “M.Ed. Level Students’ Belief and Practices on Academic Writing for their Career Development” aims to analyse students’ beliefs and practices on academic writing , to find out strategies they adopt for career development and to explore challenges they face in academic writing. To accomplish the objectives of my study, I used narrative research design. Six participants were selected from thesis group of English Education at Tribhuvan University. The sample was taken by using non-random purposive sampling procedure. The data were analysed through in-depth interview and semistructured questionnaires. After analysing the data, it was found that academic

writing is one of the best ways of career development for professional and

academic career. It is also an expression of intellectual boundary of discipline

and closely based on investigated knowledge which affects the students’

ability. It was also analysed that academic writing makes the professionals

more active, effective and confident in a related field and creates environment

of culture and habits of writing. It also develops inner capacity of writing along

with creativity. It was also found that seminar, workshop, conference, speech

programme are also the strategies for career development. Similarly, value,

identity, environment, community practice, professional and academic career

are the essential aspects of career development. Regarding the challenges in

academic writing, it was found that students and teachers, as they are nonnative speakers of English language, face challenges or problems in terms of

vocabulary, grammar, citation, cohesion and coherence

This study comprises five chapters. The first chapter presents the background of the study, statement of the problem, objectives of the study, research questions, significance of the study, delimitation of the study and operational definition of the key terms. The second chapter consists of the review of related theoretical literature, review of empirical literature, implication of the study and conceptual framework. In the same way, chapter three includes design of the study, population, sample and sampling strategy, research tools, sources of data, data collection procedures, data analysis procedures and ethical considerations. The fourth chapter is about analysis of data and interpretations of result. And the five chapter deals with findings, conclusion and recommendations which are summed up from the analysis and interpretations of the collected data for the purpose of research. The references and appendices have been included in the last part of the thesis.