Academic writing by 'international' students in the internet age: studying diversity in practice

This is an exploratory study that identifies some of the characteristics of student academic writing in the internet age. The study followed fourteen postgraduate international students in the UK as they undertook a critical literature review assignment and examined how they adapted to the requirements of their British assignments. The students came from China, Greece and India. Three rounds of interviews were undertaken. The study was intentionally exploratory as little is known about how students actually write, what online search tools they use and how they take advantage of pedagogic interventions provided by their teachers in adapting to their new educational environment. The study presents strategies that the students adopt to make the transition from the ways of studying and writing that they are familiar with to those required to do well in the British system. The paper ends by presenting implications for practice alongside reflections for theory.