In this article, I argue that new media is defined and situated within two distinct scholarly conversations ("composing in contemporary society" and "composing in academia") and has varied definitions supporting arguments made within these overarching conversations. Discussions of new media contribute to rhetoric and…

Since its advent word processing has become a common writing tool, providing potential advantages over writing by hand. Word processors permit easy revision, produce legible characters quickly, and may provide additional supports (e.g., spellcheckers, speech recognition). Such advantages should remedy common difficulties among weaker…

Argues for a theoretical distinction between the act of composing and the act of transcribing. Examines early writing sessions and note-making patterns of writers working with traditional and computer writing tools. Finds individual writers have distinctly different strategies when writing in different technological contexts. (KEH)

A study examined the effect of word processing on the amount and kind of planning writers do. Subjects, 10 experienced writers and 10 student writers, wrote essays with pen and paper, word processing alone, and a combination of word processing and pen and paper. All students were experienced with computers. The subjects' think-aloud protocols and…

A study examined two writers and their use of word processing and pen and paper in order to set up and draw out the important variables that influence writers' decisions about word processing. Subjects, a college freshman and an engineer, were interviewed about their writing processes and were observed in their natural environment. Results…

This report presents the findings from a 2-stage, multi-method study conducted in 2000 and 2001 on the editing skills and processes which students at two schools in New Zealand used when working with word processors and with pencils. The study's main aim was to examine the influence of the use of a word processor on students' editing processes and…

Discusses why recent studies of word processing offer contradicting results about computer-assisted revision. Examines how writers' cognitive processes for revision are affected by word processing. Finds that (1) experienced writers define revision to include more global-level changes, whereas students tend to focus on local-level concerns; and…

Evaluates "Editor," arguably the most sophisticated grammar and style checker. Tests its effectiveness by using samples from one student and one published writer. Finds that "Editor" is limited to identifying problems in surface structure and that it sometimes identifies "errors" which are not errors while failing to…

Reports that professional writing students using computers wrote significantly better papers than their counterparts in traditional classrooms. Attributes the success of this study (other studies have failed to find significant differences) to the population of skilled, motivated, upper-level students and consistent use of computers from planning…

Investigates the effects of word processing on the quality of college basic writers' revisions. Finds that word processing does have a positive effect. (MS)

Compares the time required to perform four tasks on the basis of information gleaned from a traditional manual and from a hypertext version of the same manual. Finds that searches in the paper document were significantly faster than those in hypertext. Suggests that direct importation of existing word-processing files into hypertext format is not…

Surveys British academics. Reveals a divide between writers who favor a word processor as their main writing tool and those who favor the pen or pencil. Finds that word processors are both indirect and delayed. Suggests that educators may need to legitimate handwritten drafts or reversion to handwriting for some word-processor users. (RS)

Considers whether differences might emerge in writing quality when students wrote examinations by hand or on a computer, and whether raters differed in their evaluation of essays written by hand, on a computer, or by hand and then transcribed to typed form before scoring. Finds no statistically significant differences in ratings among the three…

Investigates the effects of word processing on student's compositions to untangle the seemingly contradictory findings of earlier research. Finds that students are increasing their fluidity and fluency while simultaneously failing to organize and focus their increased verbiage. (RS)

Examines the effects of word processing on writing quality and the amount of text produced by basic writers. Finds that students using computers wrote more, but that there was no difference in quality between those who used a word processor and those who did not. (MS)