ESL EFL Writing Research

Studies of the 60’s and 70’s

A number of mechanical aspects of written work affect marking, even if they have very little communicative value.  This is provided by a number of studies.

Some mechanical features which affect marking are as follows:

$               Spelling errors adversely affect marking, with errors of grammar and punctuation coming next.

(Marshall, 1967 & Scannell 1966)

$               Handwriting has a great impact on the markers. This is provided by chase (1968), Briggs (1970 &1980), and soloff (1973).

Some other general features which affect marking are as follows:

$               According to Marshall (1960) an alert and sensitive marker bases his assessment on the features of a piece of work, which ‘float’ to him.  That is, he relies on his intuitions about the text.

$               Soloff (1973) suggests that lack of consonance between the writer’s values and those of the marker may affect the grade awarded.  The London Association for the teaching of English (1965) shares his opinion.

 In the 70’s research studies looked into what writing includes and how it can be taught.  The studies of Zoellner (1969), Macrorie (1970), Alexander (1971),  Emig (1971), Lindo;; (1974),  Graves (1975),  Britten (1975),  Flower  (1979)  and Hayes (1979) looked into the factors involved in composing and their pedagogical implication.  Cognitive research in writing has examined various aspects of writing.

It has examined the aspects of pre-writing stage and the application of various heuristics.

It has focussed on the revision and editing phases and the various strategies and demands that are involved.