Developing a writing curriculum for undergraduate petroleum engineers at University of Kuwait

Abstract

This thesis is focused on developing an intensive, adjunct course to prepare Kuwait petroleum engineering graduates for the writing requirements of post-graduate study in the United States. In recent years, the awareness of the importance of genre-writing and problem based learning in science and technology curriculums has risen. This parallels the rise in the number of Kuwaiti students who wish to continue their education in the United States. Moreover, since the educational goals are different between Kuwait and the United States, there is a need to provide additional transformation to Kuwaiti graduates to prepare them for the approaches and expectations of post-graduate work at United States colleges and universities. Through research into curriculums, surveys of students and professors at the Petroleum Engineering Department at Kuwait University, and interviews, I found that non-native English writers, international students, in general, and students from Kuwait, in particular, have difficulty writing technical reports in English. Petroleum engineers, at the University of Kuwait, have a very limited background in the specific genre of technical report writing; and, the lack of experience shows in the level of expertise when they write. States engineering programs. Based on my research, I determined that a short, intensive, course in lab report writing would fill the gap. This course would incorporate an integrated approach that focuses not only on genre and content, but also problem-based learning and collaborative writing skills. The course is comprehensive and provides a short, but effective, curriculum to prepare Kuwaiti petroleum engineering students for study in the United States.