The Effectiveness Of Peer Assisted Learning Strategies In Senior High School English Writing

English writing has always been considered a big problem in senior high school English teaching.And,how to solve students’ difficulties in writing and improve their writing ability have become an urgent problem for teachers and students.The purpose of this study is using Peer Assisted Learning Strategies(PALS)to help senior high school students to improve their writing ability.Therefore,this study focuses on the following questions:a.What is the influence of PALS in students’ learning motivation?b.Can Peer Assisted Learning Strategies(PALS)improve students’ writing ability?If it can,which aspects of writing ability can be improved?In a middle school of Foshan,two classes of grade two were selected as the objects of the study.They were Class 5 and 10 Grade two.Class 5 was the experimental class,and Class10 was the controlled class.The experimental period lasted for 4 months.PALS was used in the experimental class and traditional teaching writing method was used in the controlled class.Otherwise,portfolio assessment was used in experimental class.The formative assessment was used on students’ writing practice in experimental class.The main conclusions of this thesis are as follows:1.PALS was used to help improve students’ motivation in writing.Peers’ mutual learning writing provides students with an enjoyable writing environment.The mutual complement for each other between team members make them learn from peers.Students have got the joy of progress which increases their positive emotion experience.With the help of PALS,both the top students and the underachievers significantly improved their motivation in writing.2.PALS were used to improve students’ writing skills.First,it is the writing content.Through PALS,students can quickly develop associations on a topic.Brainstorming helps them obtain relevant and useful information in the mutual learning groups.So they can determine their writing contents.Second,it is the structure of the composition.In the peers mutual learning writing activities,students learn through discussions and peers’ guidance.Students can use transitional words,which forms a connecting link in paragraphs or sentences and makes their composition an integral whole.Third,it is the grammar.In peers’ mutual learning writing,the companions can find each others’ mistakes and correct them immediately.After a semester,the error rate in grammar is reduced greatly.Students’ writing abilities have been improved effectively.In conclusion,the author applied PALS to teaching writing.Four basic skills listening,speaking,reading and writing are regarded as an organic whole.During the writing practice,the author combines with portfolio assessment.Portfolio assessment makes a formative evaluation on students’ writing process.PALS eventually improve students’ motivation in writing and writing ability.