MECHANICAL ENGINEERING MAJORED STUDENTS' EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EOP WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

Abstract

This study explores students' perceptions of the writing assignments in the English for Occupational Purposes (EOP) program in general and English for
Mechanical Engineering (EME) in particular. It focuses on their evaluation of the assignments' effectiveness in enhancing writing skills. The research gathers
quantitative data from students enrolled in an EME course, analyzing their reactions to two major aspects namely the effectiveness of writing exercises completed
at home, and their improvement in writing skills in the long run. Findings suggest that while most students acknowledge the value of writing assignments in
improving their language proficiency and job-related communication skills, some express concerns about the clarity of instructions, lack of teacher-student
interactions, and the limited scope of feedback provided. Many students highlight the practical application of EOP writing tasks, particularly those modeled on
workplace documents like emails, reports, and essays. Overall, the study demonstrates the importance of grading EOP writing assignments to better cater to
students' career aspirations and suggests incorporating more personalized feedback to enhance their learning experience. These insights could help students
meet the subject’s requirements and support their writing skills.