Cynthia M Gomez

A Key to the Dream for Adult Learners: the Acquisition of Academic Writing Skills Cynthia M Gomez

Adult students are now enrolling into colleges and universities in large numbers. Their life responsibilities and time away from school create challenges for academic success. A portion of these learners are also non-native English speakers who face compounded difficulties. One of the skill areas that these students need to cultivate is academic writing. In order for students to be successful in college coursework, they need to be able to express their ideas and knowledge development in written form. This study examined how well these students acquire those skills. Adult learners, English instructors, student support personnel, and university officials may be interested in the study outcomes, as the results led to recommendations for improving student success, retention, and persistence.