A STUDY TO ASSES THE LEVEL OF COMPETENCY OF SCHOOL

STUDENTS IN WRITING THE DISCOURSE PROFILE

Amelya Savanna Carvalho

B.Ed. Student

Mount Carmel College of Teacher Education

Kottayam

ABSTRACT

Language is a means of communication. It is the written and spoken methods of

combining words to create meaning used by a particular group of people. English language
is our window to the world. It is an international medium of communication that has been
use either as a native or second languages that understood and reorganized by everyone.
Discourse is one of the four systems of language, the others being vocabulary, grammar and
phonology. The discourse selected for this study is Profile writing. A Profile describes the
characteristics, contributions or significance of a person or group of people in society. This
study is relevant and significant as it helps us to know whether the students are aware of the
various discourses in English like letter, profile writing. The study also helps us to find out
the common mistakes that the students confront and diagnose them and give appropriate
remedial measures to rectify it.
 INTRODUCTION

A language is a systematic means of communication by the use of sounds or

conventional symbols. It is the code we all use to express ourselves and communicate to
others. It is a communication by word of mouth. It is the mental faculty or power of vocal
communication. It is a system for communicating ideas and feelings using sounds,
gestures, signs or marks. Any means of communicating ideas, specifically, human speech,
the expression of ideas by the voice and sounds articulated by the organs of the throat and
mouth is a language. This is a system for communication. A language is the written and
spoken methods of combining words to create meaning used by a particular group of
people. Language, so far as we know, is something specific to humans, that is to say it is
the basic capacity that distinguishes humans from all other living beings. Language
therefore remains potentially a communicative medium capable of expressing ideas and
concepts as well as moods, feelings and attitudes.

A set of linguists who based their assumptions of language on psychology made

claims that language is nothing but habit formation. According to them, language is
learnt through use, through practice. In their view, the more one is exposed to the use of
language, the better one learns. Written languages use symbols (characters) to build
words. The entire set of words is the languages vocabulary. The ways in which the words
can be meaningfully combined is defined by the languages syntax and grammar. The
actual meaning of words and combinations of words is defined by the languages
semantics. A language attracts people because of the wealth of literature and knowledge
enshrined in it. English is available to us as a historical heritage in addition to our own
language. We must make the best use of English to develop ourselves culturally and
materially so that we can compete with the best in the world of mind and matter. English
language is our window to the world. English language is one tool to establish our
viewpoint. We can learn from others experience. We can check the theories of foreigners
against our experience. We can reject the untenable and accept the tenable. We can also
propagate our theories among the international audience and readers. English is an
international medium of communication that has been use either as a native or second
languages that understood and reorganized by everyone. People found that being
knowledgeable in English is the key factor for better career, huge advantage in terms of
knowledge, status in society and better communication in entire world. It dominates the
international media which unite the people around the world together which considered as
the essential carrier of language, politics that regulates the law, and in businesses which
most of the companies used to compete in global market.

Discourse is one of the four systems of language, the others being vocabulary,
grammar and phonology. Discourse has various definitions but one way of thinking about
it is as any piece of extended language, written or spoken, that has unity and meaning and
purpose. One possible way of understanding 'extended' is as language that is more than
one sentence. Something as short as two phrases in a conversation or as long as an entire
extended essay are both examples of discourse and both show various features of
discourse. In linguistics, discourse refers to a unit of language longer than a
single sentence. More broadly, discourse is the use of spoken or written language in a
social context. Discourse studies, says Jan Renkema, refers to "the discipline devoted to
the investigation of the relationship between form and function in
verbal communication."
The discourse selected for this study is Profile writing. A Profile describes the
characteristics, contributions or significance of a person or group of people in society.
Rather than offering a full biography or history, a profile focuses on one particular aspect
of a person or community to reveal something significant or interesting, or to reveal how
they represent a larger social issue. A Profile contains the following basic features: The
subject is a person or group of people whose experiences allow you to explore a topic. It
is an issue, idea, or theme that is interesting to you and your readers, an Angle that
captures a single dominant impression about the subjects. A profile is description of the
person or group of people that allows readers to visualize or imagine them. It gives
background information that describes the setting or broader social context in which the
subject lives and works. Anecdotes that reveal this person or group of peoples
characteristics through, a theme or larger central issue that this person or group of people
represent or stand for a profile. A personal profile has two functions: interviewing the
person and writing the profile. According to "The Prentice Hall Guide for College
Writers," the goal of a personal profile is to write "a biographical sketch that gives a sense
of the person's appearance, behaviour, character and accomplishments." Cover those areas
in the interview by observing the person and asking appropriate questions. In order to
write an effective profile, focus on an exciting attribute that other people would want to
read about or find interesting.

NEED AND SIGNIFICANCE

The knowledge of English language is inevitable for the survival in a fast growing
community as that of India. The need of being aware of the different discourses in
English language comes to the forefront in this context. So it is very important for the
students to be aware of the need to write a personal profile as it comes to their aid later in
the future. It is significant that the students master the writing skills for improving their
competency in English language. Having a good writing skill is mandatory for the future
endeavours in the life of a student. The knowledge of the various discourses in English
will be helpful at one point of time or the other. This study is relevant and significant as it
helps us to know whether the students are aware of the various discourses in English like
letter, profile, invitation, announcement, notice, poster, conversation, diary, newspaper
report etc. The study also helps us to find out the common mistakes that the students
confront and diagnose them and give appropriate remedial measures to rectify it.

STATEMENT OF THE PLAN

English is an international medium of communication, so it is mandatory that the

students are competent to communicate fluently in English. The discourses help the
students to attain knowledge about the different styles of writing. The study is based on
analysing school students awareness about the discourse in English called Profile
writing.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main objectives of conducting this study are as follows:

To find whether the students are aware about the various discourses in English
language.
To understand whether students are aware of the discourse of profile writing.
To provide practice to students in writing discourses like personal profile writing.
To equip the students to write profile without any assistance.
To develop a sense of responsibility to be of service to the community.
To enhance the communicative skills of the learners in English.
To increase the language competency among the students.

HYPOTHESIS OF THE STUDY

A lot of students are ignorant about the discourses in English.

The students have no idea about the format of writing a Profile.

TOOLS AND PROCEDURE

As part of B.Ed curriculum, a study was conducted to assess the awareness of

students regarding various discourses like letter writing, diary writing, profile writing,
announcement etc. For this purpose the class was divided into five groups with two
members each and topics were allotted to each member. Later the team members did a
study on the topics that were allotted to them. The investigators of the present group had
decided to conduct the study on topics like Profile Writing and Invitation. A
questionnaire was made together consisting of 25 questions that checked the awareness of
students regarding these two discourses. The study was implemented among the students
of St. Josephs Childrens Home, Kanjikuzhy, Kottayam, on 4 th November 2015. A group
of ten students were allotted to the investigators and questionnaires were distributed to
them. The students allotted for the study were of different age groups with varying
learning disabilities. The following report is based on the study conducted on the topic
Profile Writing.

ANALYSIS OF THE STUDY IN PERCENTAGE

Sl. No. Questions Answer
Yes No

0 10
1 Do you like reading biographies?
60 40
2 Have you ever read the autobiography of a great person?
30 70
3 Do you know what a profile is?
40 60
4 Have you ever seen a profile?
10 90
5 Are you interested in writing a profile?
10 90
6 Do you have the habit of knowing the profile of different
persons?
10 0
7 Are you aware of the format of writing a profile?
0 10
8 Do you know the importance of writing a profile?
60 40
9 Do you find it difficult to write a profile?
10 0
10 Do you know that a profile should be a precise one?
0 10
11 Have you ever made a profile of a famous person?
 10 0
12 Do you think profile helps in understanding the life of a person?

INTERPRETATION

From the study it was observed that all the students like reading biographies and
almost 60% of the students had read the autobiographies of famous personalities. 70% of
the students did not know what it meant by a profile and 60% of the students had not seen
a profile before. It was revealed that almost all of the students were interested to write a
profile once they got to know about it. None of them were aware of the format of writing
the profile. 60% of the students found it hard to write a profile. All the students knew that
a profile has to be a precise one and that it helps in understanding the life of a person.

FINDINGS

It was analysed from the study that there were a lot of students who were ignorant
about the different discourses in English. Even though the students liked to know more
about the discourse of profile writing, lack of assistance and proper guidance made them
hesitant. Most of the students had no idea about the format of writing a profile but some
had already seen and heard about a profile. After giving awareness about profile writing,
the students were enthusiastic to write profile on their own. The investigator had prepared
sample charts on profile writing and the students noted it down on their notebooks for
future reference. The students also made up their mind as on which personality they will
write a profile. A student read out a profile out loud to others. It was analysed that the
study was highly beneficial for the students as profile is an important discourse that gets
frequently asked in their examinations.

SUGGESTIONS

The students should try to know about the lives of different eminent personalities
and write down the main features that strikes them.
It is advised that the students spend more time in developing their writing skills in
English.
 The students should incite in them a curiosity to know more about successful
people and write down their profile by themselves.

EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS

Learning about discourses will help the students to improve on their writing skills
in English.
It helps the students get an idea about the lives and achievements of eminent
persons in our society.
The skill of having precision in writing can be acquired after learning about the
discourses like profile.
It develops the habit of acquiring knowledge among the students.
It encourages the students to have proficiency in the writing skills in English.

CONCLUSION

A profile, rather than offering a full biography or history, focuses on one

particular aspect of a person or community to reveal something significant or interesting,
or to reveal how they represent a larger social issue. It describes the characteristics,
contributions or significance of a person or group of people in society. The study
conducted made us aware of the fact that students should be given more awareness about
the importance of profile writing. It also brought to notice that more students should be
given awareness on the importance of profile writing as there will be many students who
will be ignorant about it. Profile writing is a good activity to practice, as it increases our
knowledge about the lives of people around us.

REFERENCE

Discourse - http://grammar.about.com/od/d/g/discourseterm.htm
Discourse - https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/discourse
English Language - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/importance-english-
international-medium-communication-lerma-mondrano
 Importance of English Language - http://www.usingenglish.com/
articles/importance-english-language.html
Profile - http://kairos.technorhetoric.net/20.1/praxis/bourelle-et-al/supporting-
documents/natalie-assignment.pdf

Profile of Helen Adams Keller

Born: 27 June 1880

Tuscumbia, Albama, U.S

Died: 1 June 1968 (aged 87)

Arcan Ridge, Easton, Connecticut, U.S

Occupation: Author, political activist, lecturer

Education: Radcliffe College

Helen Adams Keller born on 27th June 1880 was an American author, political
APPENDIX
activist, and lecturer. She was the first deaf blind person to earn Bachelor of Arts
degree. The story of how Kellers teacher, Anne Sullivan, broke through the isolation
imposed by a near complete lack of language, allowing the girl to blossom as she learned
to communicate, has become widely known through the dramatic depictions of the play
and film The Miracle Worker. Her birthplace in West Tuscumbia, Alabama is now a
museum and sponsors an annual Helen Keller Day. As a prolific author, Keller was well-
travelled and outspoken in her convictions.

A member of the Socialist Party of America and the Industrial Workers of the
World, she campaigned for womens suffrage, labour rights, socialism, and other similar
causes. She was inducted into the Alabama Womens Hall of Fame in 1971and was one of
twelve inaugural inductees to the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame on June 8, 2015. Keller
wrote a total of 12 published books and several articles. One of her earliest pieces of
writing, at age 11, was The Frost King (1891). At age 22, Keller published her
autobiography, The Story of My Life (1903), with help from Sullivan and Sullivans
husband, John Macy. It recounts the story of her life up to age 21 and was written during
her time in college. She passed away on June 1, 1968.