Genre-based approaches and ESL/EFL writing: a review of the literature

• Main Authors: Liu, Hongjian, Ismail, Lilliati, Ahmad, Norhakimah Khaiessa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sciedu Press 2023
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/106155/1/106155.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/106155/; https://www.sciedupress.com/journal/index.php/wjel/article/view/24772
• Institution: Universiti Putra Malaysia

This article presents a comprehensive systematic literature review of the associations between genre-based approaches (GBAs) and English as a second language (ESL) or English as a foreign language (EFL) writing. It provides an overview of GBAs and second language (L2) writing. The review further elaborates on the theoretical backgrounds of GBAs and ESL/EFL writing. The article then critically reviews 38 studies conducted on GBAs and ESL/EFL writing in the past 20 years (2003-2023). A methodological review was also performed to analyze the various research methods employed by previous researchers. Four major themes of research on GBAs and ESL/EFL writing were identified: research articles’ writing, thesis or dissertations writing, argumentative writing, and other types of professional writing. Additionally, three major methodological approaches were identified: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods. The article culminates by discussing the implications of the results of this review and recommends promising directions for future research.