ERIC Number: EJ835489
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Sep
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0742-7778
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Writing to Mean: Computer-Mediated Feedback in Online Tutoring of Multidraft Compositions
Chiu, Chi-Yen; Savignon, Sandra J.
CALICO Journal, v24 n1 p97-114 Sep 2006
This paper reports the findings of a case study that explores the relationship between feedback and revision in the online teaching of two EFL adult writers. The model of feedback adopted was one of content-based feedback followed by form-focused feedback in a series of multidraft compositions. A quantitative analysis of minimal terminal units (t-units) (Hunt, 1965) was used to analyze the relationship of feedback and revision following the two types of feedback. A paired t test showed content-based feedback to yield significantly more revisions than form-focused feedback, (p less than 0.001). To obtain a measure of the amount of information conveyed per draft, information units or "i-units" were then defined (see Savignon, 1972). Drafts subsequent to content-based feedback showed a greater increase in i-units than did those following form-focused feedback, (p less than 0.05). Discourse analysis was then conducted to examine the negotiation of meaning that took place between feedback and revision. Content-based feedback was analyzed with particular attention to a type of commentary known as "question-form comments." Question-form feedback was seen to prompt direct responses from both learners. Implications of these findings are drawn for the role of teacher feedback, both in computer-mediated and more traditional teaching contexts of second-language writing. (Contains 5 tables.)
Descriptors: Feedback (Response), Online Courses, Discourse Analysis, English (Second Language), Case Studies, Adult Students, Syntax, Revision (Written Composition), Tutoring, International Programs, Foreign Students, Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, Web Sites, Internet, Educational Technology, Electronic Learning, Computer Mediated Communication, Computer Assisted Instruction, Asynchronous Communication
Computer Assisted Language Instruction Consortium. 214 Centennial Hall, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666. Tel: 512-245-1417; Fax: 512-245-9089; e-mail: info@calico.org: Web site: http://calico.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A