Impact of Reading-to-Write and Listening-to-Write Integrated Tasks Versus Non-Integrated Writing Tasks on Source-Based Writing Development Among Iranian EFL Learners
Subject Areas : Applied LinguisticsNikoo Farhadian 1 , Hossein Heidari Tabrizi 2 , Ehsan Rezvani 3
1 -
2 -
3 -
Keywords: Integrated Writing Tasks, Listening-To-Write Integrated Tasks, Non-Integrated Writing Tasks, Reading-To-Write Integrated Tasks, Source-Based Writing,
Abstract :
Source-based writing, as a way of synthesizing and integrating information from multiple sources, is one of the essential academic skills, but it tends to be very challenging for EFL learners. The present study investigated the effects of three instructional approaches—non-integrated, Reading-to-Write (RTW) integrated tasks, and Listening-to-Write (LTW) integrated tasks—on the development of source-based writing among Iranian intermediate EFL learners. This present study adopted a pre-test-post-test design with 90 undergraduate students in three intact classes, homogenized by the OQPT and randomly assigned to three groups, who completed five tasks based on their experimental conditions. The results show that integrated tasks developed source-based writing ability through superior synthesis and use of information from sources significantly better than non-integrated tasks. Among the integrated tasks, RTW was significantly more effective than LTW, indicating greater cognitive benefits from reading materials compared to listening inputs in improving source-based writing performance. The findings are in line with knowledge-transforming frameworks that suggest engaging with reading material fosters deeper cognitive processing, critical thinking, and building up coherent arguments, while LTW tasks impose heavier cognitive loads due to the real-time processing and multitasking demands. This study has brought to light the effectiveness of IWTs in improving academic writing proficiency, thus lending strong support to the inclusion of RTW tasks in EFL curricula. .
Ahmadnattaj, F., & Ostovar-Namaghi, S. A. (2020). On the effectiveness of integrated skills approach in language teaching: A meta-analysis. Iranian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 23(2).
Aldosari, H. (2016). Effects of an integrated reading/writing approach on improving writing skills of EFL students. Dirasat Educational Sciences, 43(1), 761-771.
Aljahdali, W., & Alshakhi, A. (2021). Exploring EFL writing teaching through the integrated skills approach: A case study in the Saudi context. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 12(5), 800-809.
Aljiffri, I. H. (2010). Effects of the integrated approach to teaching English and social studies on achievement in a Saudi private elementary school. Journal of Educational & Psychological Science, 11(4), 11-31.
Alqouran, A. &. Samadi, O. (2016). The effect of reading-writing integration on Jordanian undergraduate students’ writing performance. Arab World English Journal, 7(2), 177-189.
Aull, L. L. (2019). Source-based writing and the development of analytical skills in academic writing. Journal of Academic Writing, 9(1), 15-30.
Avramenko, А. P., & Davydova, M. A. (2020). Integrated writing tasks as a means of increasing the authenticity of the learning process. Of Applied Linguistics, 2(38), 26-44.
Azodi, N., & Lotfi, A. (2020). E-collaborative tasks and the enhancement of writing performance among Iranian university-level EFL learners. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 21(1), 165-180.
Baaijen, V. M., & Galbraith, D. (2018). Understanding the effects of writing on writing: A model of writing as a knowledge-constituting process. Reading and Writing, 31(8), 1929-1943.
Brown, C. M., & Lee, E. H. (2020). Enhancing language development through source-based writing tasks. In S. White & R. Black (Eds.), Language learning in the digital age (pp. 123-140). Springer.
Byrnes, H. (2020). Toward an agenda for researching L2 writing and language learning: The educational context of development. In Manchón, R. M. (Ed.), Writing and language learning: Advancing research agendas (pp. 73–94). John Benjamins.
Chalak, A., & Heidari Tabrizi, H. (2023). Common errors in graduate Iranian EFL students’ academic writing: Implications for practitioners. International Journal of Language Studies, 17(2).
Chan, S., & Yamashita, J. (2022). Integrated writing and its correlates: A meta-analysis. Assessing Writing, 54, 100662.
Cho, H. & Brutt-Griffler, G. (2015). Integrated reading and writing: A case of Korean English language learners. Reading in a Foreign Language, 27(2), 242–261.
Cho, H. & Brutt-Griffler, G. (2015). Integrated reading and writing: A case of Korean English language learners. Reading in a Foreign Language, 27(2), 242–261.
Cho, Y., Rijmen, F., & Novák, J. (2013). Investigating the effects of prompt characteristics on the comparability of TOEFL iBT™ integrated writing tasks. Language Testing, 30(4), 513-534.
Cubilo, J., & Winke, P. (2013). Redefining the L2 listening construct within an integrated writing task: Considering the impacts of visual-cue interpretation and note-taking. Language Assessment Quarterly, 10(4), 371-397.
Cumming, A., Kantor, R., Baba, K., Erdosy, U., Eouanzoui, K., & James, M. (2005). Differences in written discourse in independent and integrated prototype tasks for next-generation TOEFL. Assessing Writing, 10(1), 5–43.
Cumming, A., Kantor, R., Baba, K., Erdosy, U., Eouanzoui, K., & James, M. (2006). Analysis of discourse features and verification of scoring levels for independent and integrated prototype written tasks for next-generation TOEFL. TOEFL monograph (p. 30). Princeton, NJ: Educational Testing Service.
Durukan, E. (2011). Effects of cooperative integrated reading and composition (CIRC) technique on reading-writing skills. Educational Research and Reviews, 6(1), 102.
Ellis, R. (2021). A short history of SLA: Where have we come from and where are we going? Language Teaching, 54(2), 190-205.
Ellis, R., Skehan, P., Li, S., Shintani, N., & Lambert, C. (2020). Task-based language teaching: Theory and practice. Cambridge University Press.
ETS. (2004). iBT/next generation TOEFL test integrated writing rubrics (scoring standards). Retrieved from http://www. ets.org/Media/Tests/TOEFL/pdf/Writing_Rubrics.pdf
ETS. (2011). Reliability and comparability of TOEFL iBTTM scores. Retrieved from http://www.ets.org/toefl/research/ ibt_insight_series.
Field, J. (2019). Rethinking the second language listening test from theory to practice. British Council Monographs on Modern Language Testing 2. Sheffield: Equinox.
Francis, A. L., & Love, J. (2020). Listening effort: Are we measuring cognition or affect, or both? Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Cognitive Science, 11(1), e1514.
Gebril, A., & Plakans, L. (2009). Investigating source use, discourse features, and process in integrated writing tests. Spaan Working Papers in Second or Foreign Language Assessment, 7, 47–84.
Gebril, A., & Plakans, L. (2021). Towards a better understanding of skill integration in integrated writing tasks. Language Assessment Quarterly, 18(2), 123-142.
Gholami, J., & Alinasab, M. (2017). Source-based tasks in writing independent and integrated essays. International Journal of Instruction, 10(3), 127-142.
Goh, C. C. M. (2018). Listening in second language learning. Oxford University Press.
Hayes, J. R. (2011). Kinds of knowledge-telling: Modeling early writing development. Journal of Writing Research, 3(2), 73-92.
Hirvela, A., & Du, Q. (2020). Connecting reading and writing: Research-based practice. In J. I. Liontas (Ed.), The TESOL encyclopedia of English language teaching (pp. 1-6). Wiley.
Knoch, U., & Sitajalabhorn, W. (2013). A closer look at integrated writing tasks: Towards a more focused definition for assessment purposes. Assessing writing, 18(4), 300-308.
Larson-Hall, J. (2015). A guide to doing statistics in second language research using SPSS and R. Routledge.
Liao, R. J., Ohta, R., & Lee, K. (2023). The relationship between written discourse features and integrated listening-to-write scores for adolescent English language learners. Language Testing, 02655322231167629.
Lindstromberg, S. (2020). The assumptions of normality and similar distributions in small-scale quantitative research: Diagnostic graphs & choosing a significance test (No. 1). Technical Report for L2 Researchers.
Masumi, O. N. O. (2021). Japanese university students’ integrated writing skills in listening-to-write tasks. Koyoyo-Ronso,142, 89-110.
Mekheimer, M. (2011). Effectiveness of an integrated, holistic pedagogy of EFL skills in college students. The Educational Research Journal, 25(100), 41-74.
Michel, M., Kormos, J., Brunfaut, T., & Ratajczak, M. (2019). The role of working memory in young second language learners’ written performances. Journal of Second Language Writing, 45, 31-45.
Ohta, R., Plakans, L. M., & Gebril, A. (2018). Integrated writing scores based on holistic and multi-trait scales: A generalizability analysis. Assessing Writing, 38, 21-36.
Plakans, L. (2008). Comparing composing processes in writing-only and reading-to-write test tasks. Assessing Writing, 13(2), 111-129.
Plakans, L. (2009). Discourse synthesis in integrated second language assessment. Language Testing, 26 (4), 561–587.
Plakans, L. (2010). Independent versus integrated writing tasks: A comparison of task representation. TESOL Quarterly, 44 (1), 185–194.
Plakans, L., & Gebril, A. (2012). A close investigation into source use in integrated second language writing tasks. Assessing Writing, 17(1), 18-34.
Plakans, L., & Gebril, A. (2013). Using multiple texts in an integrated writing assessment: Source text use as a predictor of score. Journal of Second Language Writing, 22(3), 217-230.
Plakans, L., & Gebril, A. (2018). Exploring the construct of integrated writing. Journal of Writing Research, 10(1), 45-66.
Plakans, L., Gebril, A., & Bilki, Z. (2019). Shaping motivation to read and write: The role of integrated L2 writing tasks. Journal of Second Language Writing, 45, 100689.
Plakans, L., Liao, J. T., & Wang, F. (2018). Integrated assessment research: Writing-into-reading. Language Teaching, 51(3), 430-434.
Rukthong, A., & Brunfaut, T. (2020). Is anybody listening? The nature of second language listening in integrated listening-to-summarize tasks. Language Testing, 37(1), 31-53.
Scardamalia, M., & Bereiter, C. (1987). Knowledge telling and knowledge transforming in written composition. Advances in Applied Psycholinguistics, 2, 142-175.
Siegel, J. (2020). Exploring listening strategy instruction through action research. Palgrave Macmillan.
Siegel, J. (2021). Note-taking in second language listening assessment: Insights and issues. Language Testing, 38(2), 267-291.
Soleimani, H., & Mahdavipour, M. (2014). The effect of variations in integrated writing tasks and proficiency level on features of written discourse generated by Iranian EFL learners. Teaching English as a Second Language Quarterly (Formerly Journal of Teaching Language Skills), 33(2), 129-159.
Sweller, J., Ayres, P., & Kalyuga, S. (2011). Cognitive load theory. Springer.
Turuk Kuek, M. C. (2010). Developing critical thinking skills through integrative teaching of reading and writing in the L2 writing classroom (Doctoral dissertation, Newcastle University).
Vandergrift, L., & Goh, C. C. M. (2012). Teaching and learning second language listening: Metacognition in action. Routledge.
Weigle, S. (2004). Integrating reading and writing in a competency test for non-native speakers of English. Assessing Writing, 9 (1), 27–55.
Weigle, S. C., & Parker, K. (2012). Source text borrowing in an integrated reading/writing assessment. Journal of Second Language Writing, 21(2), 118-133.
Willis, C., & Nanni, A. (2017). Relative Influence of reading and listening inputs on students’ writing. Proceedings of the 37th Thailand TESOL International Conference, 165-178.
Yang, H. C., & Plakans, L. (2012). Second language writers’ strategy use and performance on an integrated reading‐listening‐writing task. TESOL Quarterly, 46(1), 80-103.
Zhang, X. (2017). Reading–writing integrated tasks, comprehensive corrective feedback, and EFL writing development. Language Teaching Research, 21(2), 217-240.
Zhang, Y., & Ren, H. (2023). Analyzing cognitive processes in integrated writing tasks: Implications for EFL teaching. Journal of Second Language Writing, 62, 100841.
Zhu, X., Li, X., Yu, G., Cheong, C. M., & Liao, X. (2016). Exploring the relationships between independent listening and listening-reading-writing tasks in Chinese language testing: Toward a better understanding of the construct underlying integrated writing tasks. Language Assessment Quarterly, 13(3), 167–185.
Zuzana, T., DeCamillis, K., & Lorenz, S. (2023). Culturally and linguistically responsive source-based argumentative writing pedagogy for multilingual writers in the secondary school context. In R. Wette (Ed.), Teaching and learning source-based writing: Current perspectives and future directions (pp. 50-70). Routledge.