Week 3: Research on L2 Writing Process

                     Week 3: Research on L2 Writing Process

Key Points:  A Critical Examination of L2 Writing Process Research is to make a critical analysis of the cognitive process in L2 written composition. Then some methodological ways are proposed including data collection, the participants' command of L2, the contexts of studies, the type and number of participants involved and the type of task used. According to the specific research, such as skilled and unskilled L2 writers and so on, the limitations and suggestions of the future research are also discussed. As a result, we not only consider the current process but also the conceptual, linguistic rhetorical choices in L2 writing process.

In the reading of Building an Empirically-based Model of EFL Learners’ Writing Progress, according to detailed analysis of writing process of 34 Japanese EFL writing experts and novices, the author draws a conclusion that we should make the qualitative research in present studies and take into account affective an emotional factors in future studies.

My Interaction Portion:  Maybe for most English L1 writers, the writing process is not difficult. However, for English L2 writers, the process of writing in an academic environment is challenging. L2 writing has always been a difficult area for second language learners and a heated topic for second language researchers.

L2 writing is a challenging and complex process. The ability to write well is not a naturally acquired skill and it is usually learned or transmitted as a set of practices. Writing skills must be practiced and learned through experience. The experts and novices will have different performances in L2 writing process. From my perspective, the main reason is that experts have done a lot of experience carefully and many effective methods are also been used in their learning. I want to tell my students that the only way to improve their writing is to keep writing--thinking with enough practice in writing and revision (involving problem solving and reflection), then they will eventually acquire the fundamentals, or at least the standard required. In addition, students writing in their L2 have to acquire proficiency in the use of the language as well as writing strategies, techniques and skills. For us, L2 writing process is not a simple path, but we should keep it with persistence and make great progress.