Describes an experimental computer program called the "Writing Environment" designed to help writers create well-structured texts on-screen. Outlines a study done in which writers were asked to use the program so that their writing strategies could then be analyzed. Provides data and conclusions of the study. (HB)

Readily accessible computer technologies including on-line notepads provide new environments for notetaking. This study sought to describe the effects of technology on the notetaking strategies and behaviors of university students. The following questions were addressed: (1) Given a choice, do students prefer taking notes from a computer tutorial…

Discusses a study of the effects of first year composition students' use of a microcomputer as a word processor on the quality of their writing. Compares students who used the word processor with those who hand wrote their compositions, revealing greater improvement among the word processing group, regardless of initial skill levels. (PAA)

This paper presents a field study carried out with learners who used a grammar checker in real writing tasks in an advanced course at a Swedish university. The objective of the study was to investigate how students made use of the grammar checker in their writing while learning Swedish as a second language. Sixteen students with different…

Describes the use of a local area network and video switching equipment in teaching revision skills on computer. Explains that reading stories from texts, rewriting them from differing character viewpoints, and editing them as a group exposed students to a variety of writing problems and stimulated various revision strategies. (SG)

Description of a course in hypertext literacy developed for an advertising and communications department describes the two instructional methods used; argues that hypertext is a unique computer application that can be a valuable learning tool; and discusses hypertext reading and writing skills and barriers to the use of this technology. (21…

Describes a study of undergraduates at West Virginia University that was conducted to investigate the effects of computer-based instruction on writing performance and writing apprehension. Computer anxiety is measured, appropriate software is discussed, and the quality of pretreatment and posttreatment essays are compared with essays written…

Presents results from a study of eight college freshman to determine differences between revising essays on-screen and on-paper. Eighty-one percent of on-screen changes were above the mechanical or word level, often related to meaning and content. Students working on-screen tended to add more information and recreate paragraphs, but sometimes…

This book is based on the idea that finding the perfect piece of software is less important than understanding the role of computers in helping all students do what writers do: get ideas, generate material, manipulate that material, confer and collaborate with others in the classroom or over a network, edit the documents, and publish a final copy.…

Recommends that writing teachers integrate word processing and revision strategies when teaching how to diagnose and correct structural writing problems. Presents exercises employing these methods in a first-year English composition course. Stresses the computer's ability to help students evaluate their writing, encouraging eventual independent…

Two groups of freshman students participated in the experiment. They were enrolled in their first ESL writing course. Before instruction, both groups were pre-tested. They wrote an essay. T-test results showed significant differences between both groups in writing ability. The experimental group made too many errors and had many writing problems.…

This study investigated the strategies used by three students in each of two college-level online writing classes, first-year composition for native speakers of English (NS) and first-year composition for speakers of English as a Second Language (ESL). Every paper written and reviewed with fellow students, every draft, and every peer critique was…

Argues that the combination of collaborative writing and electronic resources can produce a reaffirmation of literacy as a social process. Utilizes feminist theory to equate the postmodernist assumptions regarding the indeterminate nature of language with democratizing influences. Describes a class project where students produced a collaborative,…