ESL ESL Reading & Writing Instruction 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the main purpose of 'genre-based writing instruction' in ESL?
- To help students write in any style freely
- To teach students the conventions and social purposes of specific text types like reports or letters (Correct answer)
- To focus exclusively on grammatical correctness
- To have students translate literary texts
Correct answer: To teach students the conventions and social purposes of specific text types like reports or letters
Genre-based instruction explicitly teaches the structure, language features, and communicative purpose of particular text types.
Question 2: Which type of feedback focuses on global issues such as organization and content rather than surface errors?
- Error correction feedback
- Holistic feedback (Correct answer)
- Peer spelling review
- Grammatical markup
Correct answer: Holistic feedback
Holistic feedback addresses higher-order concerns like idea development and coherence before focusing on grammar or mechanics.
Question 3: What is a 'thesis statement' in academic writing instruction for ESL learners?
- A topic sentence that opens a body paragraph
- A sentence that states the main argument or central claim of an essay (Correct answer)
- A transitional phrase between paragraphs
- A concluding restatement of the introduction
Correct answer: A sentence that states the main argument or central claim of an essay
The thesis statement, typically found at the end of the introduction, tells the reader what argument the essay will support.
Question 4: What reading comprehension strategy is a student using when they form a mental image of what they are reading?
- Summarizing
- Visualizing (Correct answer)
- Predicting
- Questioning
Correct answer: Visualizing
Visualizing—creating mental images—deepens comprehension by engaging the reader's imagination with the text.
Question 5: In a process writing classroom, what is the main purpose of a 'writing conference' between teacher and student?
- To grade the final draft immediately
- To provide individualized feedback and guidance during the writing process (Correct answer)
- To test grammar knowledge verbally
- To assign new writing topics
Correct answer: To provide individualized feedback and guidance during the writing process
Writing conferences allow teachers to offer targeted, personalized feedback on a draft in progress to support revision.
Question 6: What does 'text structure' refer to in reading instruction?
- Font and layout choices in a document
- The organizational pattern an author uses to present information, such as cause-effect or compare-contrast (Correct answer)
- The vocabulary difficulty level of a text
- The genre classification of a written work
Correct answer: The organizational pattern an author uses to present information, such as cause-effect or compare-contrast
Teaching text structures helps readers recognize organizational patterns—like problem-solution or sequence—that aid comprehension.
ESL ESL Reading & Writing Instruction 2
What is the main purpose of 'genre-based writing instruction' in ESL?