QUESTIONNAIRE ON WRITING for 1st year students


Name and surname (optional) _______________________________


I. Writing in general


1. Specify your previous writing experience. If you have written some kinds of writing assignments
from the following list so far, specify how many:

     a) an argumentative essay (i.e. stating arguments and counter-arguments)

              yes        how many approximately _____                  no

     b) a literary analysis essay

              yes        how many approximately _____                  no

     c) an advantages and disadvantages essay

              yes        how many approximately _____                   no

     d) a comparison and contrast essay

              yes        how many approximately _____               no

     e) a research paper

              yes        how many approximately _____                  no

     f) other types of essay,

          specify __________________________________________________


2. Before writing an essay (of any sort) did you get instructions/advice from your
teacher/instructor concerning the essay's

    a) organization

    b) argumentation

    c) language and style

    d) others, specify ____________________________________________________________

    e) none at all; in this case, did you try to find some information yourself and where


      _________________________________________________________________________


   3. Did you previously do any research before writing an essay:

        yes          no


   If so, did you use:  a) the internet

                                  b) books

                                  c) magazine/newspaper articles

                                  d) professional journals

                                  e) personal interviews

                                  f) others - specify________________________


4. Did your teacher/instructor advise you/encourage you to

     a) do brainstorming before writing an essay

     b) do some research before writing an essay

     c) understand/consider the format of the assignment

     d) write a draft/drafts

     e) revise and edit the essay

     f) cite sources carefully

     g) avoid plagiarism


5. Did your teacher/instructor use model essays to demonstrate various techniques and styles?

    yes          no


6. Have you ever taken any course on writing? If so, where? ___________________



II. Your future bachelor thesis


1. Expected/Planned subject area of the bachelor thesis

   Methodology ______     Linguistics  ________      Literature _____  Cultural studies ______


2. When writing your bachelor thesis, do you think it will be useful for you to study some
textbook, articles, www pages or courses dealing with the academic style of writing?

If yes,

            - specify why ___________________________________________________________

            - specify the source ______________________________________________________


3. Considering the following list of concepts, mark those you knew before you started this
programme and those you know now (use x for your answers)

                                                                       before        now

    a) academic writing style

    b) plagiarism

    c) paraphrasing

    d) APA style / MLA style /

        Chicago style (any of these)


4. Are you now familiar with the academic writing style?

    a) yes, I know the style and its typical features

    b) I have heard the term 'academic style' but I am not familiar with its typical features

    c) no, I am not familiar with the style and its typical features

    d) other _____________________________________________________________________


5. If you are familiar with the academic writing style, how would you define it?



6.Do you intend to take part in an academic writing course? If yes, could you mention some
instructions you expect to get concerning academic writing style?




7. Quoting sources:

    a) I do not know how to quote sources

    b) I have been given instructions by my teacher/instructor concerning quoting sources

    c) I have tried to find out how to quote sources myself

    d) quoting sources is possible but not necessary


8. What is paraphrasing? What do you do when you paraphrase what someone else said?




9. Plagiarism is (more than one answer may be correct)

a) copying material/someone else's ideas without acknowledging the source

b) paraphrasing someone else's ideas without mentioning the source

c) using material when author has been identified but not using quotation marks to mark his/her
original words

d) using material from the internet without mentioning the source



                           Thank you very much for your time and effort!