Сontinuity in teaching writing in english to secondary school graduates and university students of non-linguistic faculties

the article looks at the problem of continuity in teaching writing in English to secondary school graduates and university students of non-linguistic faculties. Based on the analysis of the results of the Federal English exam (part «Writing») for the period from 2011 to 2015 the author identifies students’ typical mistakes in writing discursive essays. The article outlines the requirements and describes assessment criteria for the written statement of this type. To ascertain the purposes of the use of writing in English and Russian in everyday life the author conducted a survey of the first year students of Petrozavodsk State University, the results of the survey are presented in the article. The author reveals the opportunities of the module «Foreign language for academic written communication», developed by teachers of the Department of foreign languages for Humanities of Petrozavodsk State University as a means of solving problems in teaching writing in English to uni-versity students. The module takes into consideration different teaching practices at non-linguistic faculties. It is concluded that the development of students’ written skills is an essential tool of de-veloping their communicative competence, improving language skills and professional knowhow in general. Students should be taught how to create written texts that can function as a means of their professional communication.