INSTRUCTING ACADEMIC WRITING GENRES THROUGH ONLINE WRITING RESOURCES IN UZBEKISTANI MASTER'S PROGRAMS
Abstract
This study explores the familiarity of Uzbekistani master’s students with academic writing (AW) genres and proposes teaching strategies using online writing resources (OWRs). A mixed-method approach was employed, collecting quantitative and qualitative data via a questionnaire administered to 181 MA students across four Uzbekistani institutions: Namangan State Institute of Foreign Languages (NamSIFL), Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages (SamSIFL), Uzbekistan State World Languages University (UzSWLU), and National University of Uzbekistan (NUUz). Participants were enrolled in English-oriented philological disciplines, including Language Typology, Literature, Foreign Language and Literature (FLL), and Linguistics. Results revealed that 72% of students were familiar with academic essays, while only 61% reported experience with research papers; other genres were largely unfamiliar, indicating limited genre awareness. The study highlights the need for genre-based instruction and the integration of OWRs such as writing blogs, online courses, webinars, and digital communities to enhance students’ academic writing proficiency.