Introduction

Teaching academic writing is interesting and rewarding. This kind of teaching is typically required in university English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programs which aim to develop academic literacy for second language (L2) learners. EAP courses are a feature of foundation year studies or EAP pathway programs where students are improving their language skills before they start their university studies in English. EAP courses are also commonly offered to students who are already studying at university but still need to develop their academic writing skills. Academic writing is also an important aspect of standardized tests with a writing component such as the popular Cambridge IELTS (International English Language Testing System), and the Educational Testing Service’s TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). Both tests are designed to measure the English language ability of non-native speakers and they often form part of the university entry requirements for non-native English speakers.