This article provides an overview of the ways in which data and text mining have potential as research methodologies in composition studies. It introduces data mining in the context of the field of composition studies and discusses ways in which this methodology can complement and extend our existing research practices by blending the best of what…

Discusses a pedagogically useful model of text structure in which text structure is mapped as a three-dimensional structure of interconnected T-units, or a discourse matrix. Illustrates and explains a sample discourse matrix and tells why matrix diagraming is more useful than other systems that represent text structure. (FL)

Suggests a number of criteria and procedures that represent a model of scholarly inquiry into the writing process. Discusses why some researchers are discontented with present models. Details what the author feels are acceptable, even desirable, operating assumptions, research methodologies, and ways of reporting results. (JD)