Concept Mapping for Improving Expository Writing in Second Language

Abstract

one from academic point of view. The students at intermediate level need to practice expository essay writing to be able to write fluently in their university stage ahead. The study investigated the effects of conceptmapping strategy on expository writing skill of the students atintermediate level. The study was experimental in nature with pretestposttest control group design. To this end, forty students fromGovernment Girls Higher Secondary School from Intermediate Part IIwere selected as an average sample after their Proficiency in EnglishLanguage Test (PET). They were divided into two equivalent groupsafter pretest. The concept mapping treatment was given to theexperimental group for six weeks. They composed 10 expository essaysfollowing concept mapping strategy for each essay. The control groupwas taught in a conventional way. Pretest-Posttest score difference ofwriting achievement of control and experimental groups revealedsignificant difference. It was observed that the he treatment group wrotemore organized, extensive, comprehensive and rich essays than thosewritten by students of control group. The findings suggest that conceptmapping is a practical tool in prompting expository writing skill of thestudents at intermediate level in Pakistani perspective.