Analysis of the use of Gram.mat.ik IV grammar checker software in business communication classes found 114 errors the program did not identify in 67 student papers. Modifications of the software were recommended to increase its usefulness. (SK)

This paper presents 10 techniques for tutoring college-level writing students on word processors. Good teaching and tutoring techniques enable writers rather than simply demand compliance. A good technique: must not rely on a fancy word processing program; will take advantage of the basic word processing functions; will ask that the writer do…

Focusing on the process of composition, lists and discusses problems students have in prewriting, writing, and revising. Solutions to these problems, which involve computer use, include making students aware of the composition process, writing strategies good writers use, audience analysis, grammar review, and need for peer review. (JN)

One hundred twenty-four college business communication students who were already familiar with word processing software were taught how to use a writing-analysis program. Although the writing-analysis group performed higher on all criterion measures, their scores were not significantly different from the group that edited their letters without the…

This paper addresses the question of how grammar checkers may help or hinder students by analyzing the performance of the Microsoft Word 97's Grammar Checker at flagging and explaining errors frequently made by college students. Thousands of sentences were fed into the program. Results indicate that it caught some of the errors reliably (e.g.…

Discusses the use of video display terminals in a newswriting course when there is not enough equipment to go around, and presents ways to use the terminal to improve students' grammar. (HOD)

A program evaluation was undertaken at Southern Illinois University (Carbondale) to assess the broad, measurable effects of using computers to teach introductory college composition. Twenty-four classes were studied--twelve control classes and twelve experimental--with the experimental computer classes meeting in the lab for half of their…

A study was conducted to determine the effects of word processing on the correctness of student writing. Student papers produced on the word processor were compared with those produced without the word processor in two classes of freshman English--an experimental and a control. The teacher attempted to keep the teaching methods and curriculum in…

Surveyed members of the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business to determine how and why computers were being used in the business or management curriculum and the kinds of hardware and software in use. (PD)

Compares undergraduates' handwritten reports with those written on computers for 10 precisely defined quality factors. Finds more similarities than differences, with 6 of the 10 tests showing no significant differences. Notes that this study does not support a general conclusion that basic writing quality will improve in computer written…

A study was conducted to determine whether composition students revise more and write better essays on a word processor than they do with pen, ink, and typewriter. Students wrote four out-of-class papers, with two classes using computers and two using pen, paper, and typewriter. Students had to produce at least two drafts of each paper. Sixty…

A study examined whether word processing amplifies writing performance and whether it restructures the process of writing. Sixteen college students wrote a short essay in a single session on either a word processor or in longhand. The quality of the essays was assessed by trained judges who rated their content and style. Text analysis methods were…

Twenty-five students, all undergraduates except one, were informally surveyed to determine their attitudes toward the use of word processing in the writing of student papers. Their responses indicated that the use of a word processor was a matter of personal choice with such factors as speed, convenience, storage, and print-outs cited as…

Describes the writing problems of "real world" professional users of word processing, which include editing instead of revising and rethinking, a reluctance to rewrite, and word-inflation. Suggests strategies for working with students to avoid these problems, focusing on functional writing used by professionals in various fields. (MM)

A study to determine the effect of an interactive checker on student grammar and writing skills and on student attitudes about those skills found that those using the interactive checker have more positive feelings. Findings also indicated that those students writing with a computer gain equal proficiency in grammar. (JOW)