TSL 756

THEORIES AND
PRACTICES IN ESP

______________________________________________________________________
INTERVIEW PROTOCOL

A Needs Analysis To Improve English Academic Thesis Writing Among Chemistry

Postgraduate Students

This is a needs analysis of how English academic thesis writing is written by Chemistry
postgraduate students. Your thoughts will significantly contribute to our understanding in
answering the research objectives below:

1. To identify the challenges faced by Chemistry postgraduate students in writing

Chapter 1 of their English academic thesis.

2. To find out the needs of Chemistry postgraduate students in writing Chapter 1 of their
English academic thesis.

By addressing these objectives, this research aims to provide insights for effective course
designs. The target participants for this research are selected University Malaysia Sarawak
students. Your participation in this interview will remain confidential, and the information
provided will be used solely for research purposes. Feel free to express your thoughts openly,
as your honest feedback is essential to the success of our study. Once again, thank you for
your willingness to participate in this interview, and we look forward to gaining valuable
insights from your experiences and perspectives.

TIME OF INTERVIEW

DATE

PLACE/PLATFORM

NAME OF INTERVIEWER

NAME OF INTERVIEWEE
INTRODUCTION

1. Introduce yourself (Name, Educational Background, etc)

2. Interviewer explains the purpose of the study
3. Interviewer describes the interview structure (audio recording, taking notes, ect)
4. Ask the interviewee if has any questions
5. Define any necessary terms

INTERVIEW CONTENT QUESTIONS

THE CHALLENGES FACED BY CHEMISTRY POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS IN

WRITING CHAPTER 1 OF THEIR ENGLISH ACADEMIC THESIS

1. Level of English Writing Skill

- What is your level of English writing skills?
- What are your strengths in writing?
- What is your weakness in writing?

2. Academic Thesis Writing Fluency

- With that level of English writing skills, does it make it easier for you to write
academic writing?
- Do you find it hard to construct your ideas into words when writing Chapter 1
of your academic thesis?
- What do you think is the most challenging part of writing Chapter 1?
THE NEEDS OF CHEMISTRY POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS IN WRITING
CHAPTER 1 OF THEIR ENGLISH ACADEMIC THESIS.

1. Academic Writing Needs

- Do you have prior knowledge about English academic thesis writing?

- Have you ever studied academic writing?
- Do you think the learning of this course has met your expectations?
- Do you find it helpful?
- In your opinion, is there anything that needs to be improved in your Chapter 1
academic thesis writing?
- In your opinion, in the process of learning to write academic writing, what
aspects need to be assessed?
- In academic writing, what kind of feedback do you expect? And the reason?

2. Students Preferences
- What are your learning styles?
- Do you work best in groups or individuals when it comes to writing activities?
- What is your preferred learning mode? Do you prefer online, physical or
hybrid learning mode?