Although it does not express the official position of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) or of the NCTE Committee on Instructional Technology, this annual report of the NCTE Committee on Instructional Technology discusses the impact of technological advances on classroom instruction. The first section of the report documents a definite trend toward using computers in the teaching of composition. The second section of the paper discusses how computers can be used in the three stages of writing--planning, drafting, and revising/editing/proofreading. The third section of the paper cites seven arguments against the use of word processing, including the position that word processing is difficult to learn and takes time away from writing instruction. The fourth section of the paper lists eight steps that can be taken in support of the use of word processing, such as soliciting financial support for school computer labs from parents, local businesses, and government grants. The paper concludes with the opinion of most members of the committee that word processing is the best justification to date for using computers in the classrooms. (DF)