Writing Performance

Abstract

Preparing a written outline during prewriting and composing a rough rather than a polished first draft are cognitive strategies that may lessen a writer's work load. The present laboratory and field research examined whether these strategies enhance writing performance. In an experiment, I manipulated the use of these strategies by college students in a letter writing task. The students' writing process, efficiency, and quality were examined. The results showed that preparing a written outline, compared with not doing so, increased the time spent translating ideas into text, improved the quality of letters, and failed to enhance overall efficiency. The use of rough versus polished drafts affected when the students reviewed their work, as expected, but had no influence on quality or efficiency. A survey of science and engineering faculty revealed that the frequency of using written outlines correlated positively with writing productivity, whereas use of polished drafts was uncorrelated with productivity.

Journal
Written Communication
Published
1987-07-01
DOI
10.1177/0741088387004003003
Open Access
Closed
Topics

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (2)

  1. Written Communication
  2. Computers and Composition

Cites in this index (9)

  1. Written Communication
  2. Written Communication
  3. Research in the Teaching of English
  4. Research in the Teaching of English
  5. Written Communication
Show all 9 →
  1. Written Communication
  2. Research in the Teaching of English
  3. Research in the Teaching of English
  4. Research in the Teaching of English
Also cites 11 works outside this index ↓
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  2. 10.1080/00461528209529251
  3. 10.1037/0033-295X.87.3.215
  4. 10.1037/0022-0663.74.4.557
  5. 10.1037/0096-1523.4.4.648
  6. 10.1145/2163.358100
  7. 10.1177/001872678203500104
  8. 10.2466/pms.1983.57.3.963
  9. 10.1080/00220671.1970.10884123
  10. 10.2307/356586
  11. 10.2190/EHRV-RLV5-EVW6-NH58
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