title: Textual and discoursal resources used in the essay genre in sociology and English

authors: Bruce, Ian

subjects: essay genre

abstract: Research that has examined university assignment writing has varied from large-scale, inventorial surveys across disciplines to more specific, finer-grained analyses of the assignment requirements of specific disciplines. However, while such research has involved surveys of the views and expectations of faculty or the analysis of assignment tasks, less attention has been given to the written texts that are the outcomes of assignment tasks. Furthermore, previous studies have not tended to employ theories of text or discourse in systematic ways to account for the organisational and linguistic resources employed in assignment writing. In addressing these issues, this study examines the essay as an assignment genre in the disciplines of sociology and English. For each discipline, a sample of ten extended student essays, taken from the British Academic Written English (BAWE) Corpus, is examined in terms of the dual approach to genre (social and cognitive) of Bruce (2008a). Each essay text is subject to close analysis of the rhetorical purposes, discoursal and textual resources that it draws upon. The findings of the study indicate significant differences between the essay genre in the two disciplines in the complex variety of rhetorical purposes and associated textual resources that they draw upon.

text: Textual and discoursal resources used in the essay genre in sociology and English Research that has examined university assignment writing has varied from large-scale, inventorial surveys across disciplines to more specific, finer-grained analyses of the assignment requirements of specific disciplines. However, while such research has involved surveys of the views and expectations of faculty or the analysis of assignment tasks, less attention has been given to the written texts that are the outcomes of assignment tasks. Furthermore, previous studies have not tended to employ theories of text or discourse in systematic ways to account for the organisational and linguistic resources employed in assignment writing. In addressing these issues, this study examines the essay as an assignment genre in the disciplines of sociology and English. For each discipline, a sample of ten extended student essays, taken from the British Academic Written English (BAWE) Corpus, is examined in terms of the dual approach to genre (social and cognitive) of Bruce (2008a). Each essay text is subject to close analysis of the rhetorical purposes, discoursal and textual resources that it draws upon. The findings of the study indicate significant differences between the essay genre in the two disciplines in the complex variety of rhetorical purposes and associated textual resources that they draw upon.

year: 2010-09

title: Recent changes to welfare policy & the labour market

authors: Cochrane, William

abstract: This presentation:
- Outlines changes to the welfare system, (job seeker’s benefit).
- Discusses likely impacts on the New Zealand labour market.
- Compares the approach taken by the previous Labour Government.
- Makes concluding comments regarding the interaction of welfare and the labour market.

text: Recent changes to welfare policy & the labour market This presentation:
- Outlines changes to the welfare system, (job seeker’s benefit).
- Discusses likely impacts on the New Zealand labour market.
- Compares the approach taken by the previous Labour Government.
- Makes concluding comments regarding the interaction of welfare and the labour market.

year: 2025

title: Teachers’ perspectives on incorporating aspects of Mātauranga Māori in year 9-10 secondary school science classrooms.

authors: Hermanns, Christina Leilani

subjects: science

abstract: Science classrooms in Aotearoa New Zealand may cause some students to feel marginalised.  The inclusion of mātauranga Māori offers a diverse perspective on knowledge which may help inclusion of, and understanding for, these learners.  This research examines how science teachers include mātauranga Māori in their junior secondary science learning activities. 

I am a Pākehā teacher who was born and raised in Hawaii. I have 17 years of science teaching experience in Aotearoa New Zealand. This interpretive, phenomenographic study involved semi-structured interviews with six teachers, all who taught in North Island schools.  Five of the six participants were in schools, and one taught in a Kura Kaupapa Māori.  Data were gathered about teachers’ understanding of te reo Māori, inclusion of mātauranga Māori in the junior secondary science classroom, and how teachers’ own cultural awareness impacted their practice. 

The findings indicate that teachers include mātauranga Māori in their science classrooms in a diverse range of ways. From whole course design to more subtle ways that reflect Māori tikanga and Māori pedagogy.  Teachers often faced challenges in including mātauranga Māori in their science classroom and they overcame these by learning te reo, embracing Māori tikanga and continuing to learn to fill the gaps in their knowledge. The context of the school and its community was also a factor, as well as teachers’ personal philosophies about the nature of knowledge. 

The findings have implications for initial teacher education and professional learning for the integration of mātauranga Māori into the secondary science classroom.

text: Teachers’ perspectives on incorporating aspects of Mātauranga Māori in year 9-10 secondary school science classrooms. Science classrooms in Aotearoa New Zealand may cause some students to feel marginalised.  The inclusion of mātauranga Māori offers a diverse perspective on knowledge which may help inclusion of, and understanding for, these learners.  This research examines how science teachers include mātauranga Māori in their junior secondary science learning activities. 

I am a Pākehā teacher who was born and raised in Hawaii. I have 17 years of science teaching experience in Aotearoa New Zealand. This interpretive, phenomenographic study involved semi-structured interviews with six teachers, all who taught in North Island schools.  Five of the six participants were in schools, and one taught in a Kura Kaupapa Māori.  Data were gathered about teachers’ understanding of te reo Māori, inclusion of mātauranga Māori in the junior secondary science classroom, and how teachers’ own cultural awareness impacted their practice. 

The findings indicate that teachers include mātauranga Māori in their science classrooms in a diverse range of ways. From whole course design to more subtle ways that reflect Māori tikanga and Māori pedagogy.  Teachers often faced challenges in including mātauranga Māori in their science classroom and they overcame these by learning te reo, embracing Māori tikanga and continuing to learn to fill the gaps in their knowledge. The context of the school and its community was also a factor, as well as teachers’ personal philosophies about the nature of knowledge. 

The findings have implications for initial teacher education and professional learning for the integration of mātauranga Māori into the secondary science classroom.

year: 2025-05-29