One hundred seventy-five first-year community college students enrolled in a course called "Developmental Writing 090" participated in this study. Some students were enrolled in an experimental group which was divided into two subgroups: one group was involved in independent study and the other in small group instruction. Other students in the study were enrolled in two control groups: one group received tradional instruction at night, the other received comparable instruction during the day. The statistical procedure applied to treat the collected data was analysis of covariance. It was concluded that groups of community college students who are enrolled in developmental writing and who are engaged in independent study learn less than students involved in small group or traditional instruction; small group instruction is more effective than either independent or traditional instruction in improving developmental writing skills; and traditional instruction used in night classes is more effective than traditional instruction offered during the day. (Author/TS)