Pair versus individual writing: Effects on fluency, complexity and accuracy

2009 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 445-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gillian Wigglesworth ◽  
Neomy Storch
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Oral Language ◽  
Second Language Writing ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
Collaborative Writing ◽  
Single Text ◽  
Or Groups ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Language Writing

The assessment of oral language is now quite commonly done in pairs or groups, and there is a growing body of research which investigates the related issues (e.g. May, 2007). Writing generally tends to be thought of as an individual activity, although a small number of studies have documented the advantages of collaboration in writing in the second language classroom (e.g. DiCamilla & Anton, 1997; Storch, 2005; Swain & Lapkin, 1998). Particularly in university contexts, group or pair assignments are widely used in many disciplines. In addition, collaborative writing could be used in second language classroom assessment contexts as formative assessment. However, research which compares texts produced by learners collaboratively to texts produced individually, and the implications of this for assessment practices, is rare. This study is a first step in the investigation of using collaborative writing in second language contexts and comparing the performance of two groups of second language learners: one group worked individually, and the other group worked in pairs. When writing in pairs, each pair produced a single text. All participants completed one writing task: an argumentative essay. The performances of the individuals (N = 48) and the pairs (N = 48) were compared on detailed discourse analytic measures of fluency, complexity and accuracy. This comparison revealed that collaboration impacted positively on accuracy, but did not affect fluency and complexity. A detailed analysis of the pair transcripts recorded during the writing activity provides insights into the ways in which pairs work together, and the foci of their endeavour. The implications of these findings for in-class assessment of second language writing are discussed.

“I Think That Sounds Right”

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 341-368
Author(s):  
Laura Walls
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Heritage Language ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
Collaborative Writing ◽  
Implicit Knowledge ◽  
Heritage Language Learners ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Language Courses ◽  
Spanish Classroom

Many studies have demonstrated the benefits of learner-learner interactions in the second language classroom; however, despite the growing number of heritage language learners (HLLs) that enroll in language courses, only recently have researchers begun to examine interactions among second language learners and HLLs. Still, HLL-HLL interactions go unexamined. The present study fills this gap in the literature by analyzing HLL-HLL interactions during collaborative writing activities in a Spanish classroom. Results indicate that learners resolve lexical, grammatical, and orthographic issues accurately in most cases. It also shows that learners rely heavily on their strengths in Spanish and thus, utilize their implicit knowledge of the language. Their intuition enables them to critically assess the appropriateness of certain words and structures according to their needs and intentions; however, it also means that they tend to not fully utilize the resources at their disposal. Pedagogical implications are discussed.

REPLICATION AND REPORTING

1997 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 499-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlene Polio ◽  
Susan Gass
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Second Language Writing ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
Level Of Detail ◽  
Proficiency Levels ◽  
Replication Studies ◽  
Writing Research ◽  
Language Writing

In this paper we address the need for replication studies in the field of second language acquisition and discuss the problems surrounding standards of reporting research. A particular focus is on the level of detail necessary for replication to take place. The lack of uniform standards is noted with specific examples of problematic reporting taken from descriptions of second language learners' proficiency levels and measures of linguistic accuracy in second language writing research. We propose ways that we believe will lead to more thorough reporting of research and that will therefore allow others to engage in replication.

scholarly journals Performing Argumentative Writing in English: Difficulties, Processes, and Strategies

2001 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
Second Language Writing ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
Argumentative Writing ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Language Writing ◽  
Writing Task

Argumentative writing constitutes an important part of second-language learners' academic writing experience in North America. This study examined the difficulties a group of Mexican graduate students encountered when engaged in an argumentative writing task as well as their writing processes and strategies. Data were collected from individual interviews with the participants and from participants' written essays. Data analysis indicated that most participants perceived the rhetorical aspects of English argumentative writing as difficult. Data analysis also indicated that participants mainly used cognitive, social, and search strategies, whereas metacognitive strategies were used infrequently. Potential implications of the study for second-language writing instruction are discussed.

scholarly journals English Second Language Writing Difficulties and Challenges Among Saudi Arabian Language Learners

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 24
Author(s):  
Meshal Alfaqiri
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Second Language Writing ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
Saudi Arabian ◽  
Writing Difficulties ◽  
English Second Language ◽  
Saudi Arabian Students ◽  
Language Writing ◽  
Research Questions

The purpose of this study was to explore the writing difficulties and challenges that Saudi Arabian English as a second language learners experience at different levels of proficiency. The participants of the study consisted of 114 Saudi Arabian students between the ages of 15 and 36 (53 female, 61 male). The research questions not only focused on understanding the challenges presented to the students, but, also, the metacognitive strategies that the students used to solve these challenges. The results showed that the participants lacked experience in writing English and, as such, experienced grammar issues.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness and Issues of Using Feedback in Second Language Writing

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 74
Author(s):  
Yichen Wang
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Second Language Writing ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
Writing Proficiency ◽  
English Majors ◽  
Language Writing

Based on the description of feedback in the literature and the classification of feedback by different scholars, this paper discusses the efficiency and possible issues of the teachers’ use of different feedback in the teaching of second language writing. Through interviews with experienced English majors, this paper further demonstrates the importance of teachers' use of feedback in second language writing teaching. At the end of the paper, the author also shows that the combination of different feedback according to specific situations in teaching can better promote the writing proficiency of second language learners.

scholarly journals CLASSIFICATION OF L2 WRITING PROCESS AND WRITING STRATEGIES

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Imelda Hermilinda Abas ◽  
Noor Hashima Abd Aziz
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Second Language Writing ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
Writing Process ◽  
L2 Writing ◽  
Writing Strategies ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Language Writing ◽  
Oriented Approach

English for second language writing has developed greatly, from product oriented approach to process oriented approach. This implies that the focus of L2 writing has shifted from the final product of writing to the process of writing. Because of its own rules and conventions, writing skill is considered difficult to learn in a short period of time. Although it is a difficult skill, writing is essential for second language learners’ academic success. Second language researchers are still trying to find satisfactory answers to the how and why of the teaching of writing process to second language learners. More studies are needed to shed light on second language writing process area. This paper discusses briefly the writing process and the writing strategies employed by a few EFL proficient student writers in writing. It is found that the writing process stages employedin this study were prewriting, planning, drafting, pausing and reading, revising and editing which occurred non-linear and recursive. The writing strategies identified in the writing process stages were relating the topic to past knowledge and experience, taking the readers into consideration, talk-write, freewriting, outlining, listing, seeking help, using online materials, focusing on the mechanics of writing, and text organization. However, what works successfully for some students may not work well for others, and what functions well for one assignment may not be compatible for another.

scholarly journals The Effect of Implicit Corrective Feedback on English Writing of International Second Language Learners

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 123
Author(s):  
Hanadi Abdulrahman Khadawardi
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Second Language Writing ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
Corrective Feedback ◽  
Written Feedback ◽  
Student Writers ◽  
English Writing ◽  
Language Writing

Debate about the value and the effect of both kinds of corrective feedback, explicit and implicit on second language writing has been prominent in recent years. Second language writing researchers investigate whether written implicit corrective feedback facilitates the acquisition of linguistic features. In contrast, L2 writing researchers generally emphasize the question of whether written corrective feedback helps student writers improve their writing texts and reduces their language errors. Understanding these differences is important because it provides guidelines for English language writing teachers on what are the best way to provide feedback for student writers. A quasi-experimental study was conducted to investigate the effects of implicit corrective feedback on the English writing of international second language learners in a UK educational context. It scrutinizes the application of teacher implicit written feedback in relation to the advancement of the writing skill of second language learners within a short-term period. A case study consisting of a small group of international students received implicit written feedback through codes representing specific types of writing errors. Participants were also interviewed to understand their views regarding teacher implicit written feedback and their reactions towards it. The results of the study revealed that teacher implicit written feedback helped correcting particular type of errors while other errors mandated the intervention of the teacher oral feedback.

scholarly journals EFL Learners' Lexico-grammatical Competence in Paper-based Vs. Computer-based in Genre Writing

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sundus Ziad AlKadi ◽  
Abeer Ahmed Madini
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Second Language Writing ◽  
Collaborative Writing ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Grammatical Competence ◽  
Sentence Level ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Language Writing ◽  
Computer Based

With new technology, writing became a skill that is being developed year after year. The present study questions whether there is a difference between paper-based and computer-based writing in terms of errors and lexico-grammar. It aims at exploring sentence-level errors and lexico-grammatical competence in two writing genres in a collaborative writing environment within paper-based and computer-based writing. A sample of 73 female intermediate level learners participated in the study at the University of Business and Technology (UBT), in Saudi Arabia. This mixed-methods research is significant in the literature of second language writing since it highlights genre awareness, lexico-grammatical competence, analyzing errors, and collaboration in two styles of writing. The reading-based writing tasks acted as a reflection of the learners' lexico-grammatical competence on paper and via Web 2.0 tool (Padlet). Statistically, the Mann-Whitney U-tests showed that there was no significant difference between paper-based and computer-based groups in the sentence-level errors in narrative genre, whereas there was a significant difference between the two different tools of writing groups in the sentence-level errors in opinion genre. However, there was no significant difference between paper-based and computer-based groups in the clauses (lexico-grammar) of the two groups. Immediate semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed through NVIVO to get more insights from the learners to explain the comparison between the paper-based and the computer-based writing. In light of the significant findings, implications are sought to create an equillibrium between paper-based and computer-based writing, along with enhancing collaboration in second language writing.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document