Writing Spaces: Paper vs. Screens?

Gladys N. Baya
gladysbaya@yahoo.com.ar
http://www.pageflakes.com/gladysbaya

ABSTRACT: Is writing for the computer screen

different from writing for the page? Can
computers support our learners’ development
of writing skills? Are we teachers ready to try
and teach electronic writing? Following the
process-writing framework, in this presentation
we look for answers to these questions,
overviewing the potential of integrating
computer-mediated writing into the EFL
curriculum, and discussing the requirements for
its successful implementation.

 Writing on paper or writing on

screen?
TASK ONE: Brainstorm ideas following the presenter’s
instructions.

TASK TWO: Fill in the blanks: Some differences between

writing on paper and writing on screen:
ON PAPER ON SCREEN
Text. H_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Words are used in combination with
Words are frequently 100% of the text. i _ _ _ _ _ and even a _ _ _ _ and v _ _ _ _
files.
Handwriting is an issue. Layout is an
???
issue.
Text generation is a private act. Text is p _ _ _ _ _ even while in process.
The final product is conceived as
The concepts of f_ _ _ _ _ _ _ and a _ _ _ _ _ _
finished and attributed to a certain
_ _ _ need redefining.
author, who “owns” the text.

Computer-mediated process writing:

GENERATING IDEAS, FOCUSING and
STRUCTURING:
“Writing is a thinking process in its own right” (White and Arndt 1991:3)
 POSSIBLE COMPUTER-SUPPORTED TASKS:
• Using pictures as prompts
• Watching a slideshow or video clip on the topic (opinion pieces)
• Browsing with key words
• Taking down notes.
• Using mind maps and timelines (opinion pieces and narrations)

Useful tools: Flickrcc®; Slideshare®; YouTube®; Google®; Google

Notebooks®; CmapTools®; Mind42®;

DRAFTING:
“Writers… have to organize an amorphous mass of ideas, information and associations into a coherent,
linear text.” (White and Arndt 1991:4)

POSSIBLE COMPUTER-SUPPORTED TASKS:

• Adding, deleting, moving text around.
• Checking spelling.
• Checking capitalization and punctuation.
• Checking grammar.
• Checking vocabulary use.
• Checking collocations.
Relieved from the concern with accuracy, the
• Experimenting with fonts and layout. learner-writer can focus on getting his
message across.

Useful tools: Word processor with grammar and spelling checker (e.g. Microsoft
Word® or Google docs®); Digital dictionaries and thesaurus - online or on CD-Rom
(e.g. Dictionary.com®); Dictionary of collocations - online or on CD-Rom (Cobuild
Concordance and Collocation Sampler®); Grammar reference - online or on CD-Rom
(e.g.“English Grammar Book” at Englishpage.com®).

EVALUATING:
“The main aim is to arrive at the best product possible.” (White and Arndt 1991:5)

POSSIBLE COMPUTER-SUPPORTED TASKS:

• Developing criteria for evaluation
• Responding to a text (teacher-student; teacher-class; student-
student)
• Peer reviews
• Conferencing
• Telecollaborative projects

Useful tools: Rubistar®; Microsoft Word® (collaboration tools); Google docs®;

Scribd® (for publishing documents online and getting comments); IEARN
(telecollaborative projects); online communities of practice (e.g. TESOL Webheads in
Action).
 REVIEWING:
“Re-vision –seeing with new eyes.” (White and Arndt 1991:5)

POSSIBLE COMPUTER-SUPPORTED TASKS:

• Assessing impact
• Editing and correcting

Useful tools: online polls (e.g. Vizu®); Word (mark-ups); Markin®.

PUBLISHING:
“Writing … carries us off into a mental world where there is no feedback from a present
audience.” (White and Arndt 1991:5)

Useful tools: Mailing programmes (e.g.

Outlook®); Scribd®; Freewebs®;
Blogger®; Wetpaint®; Slideshare®.

CONCLUSION: Can you read this message?

AAR8, comp-medi8d writin is EZ, BT vvv dffrnt frm writin w/ trdtnl techs.
RUready 2 teach it?

References:
Beatty, Ken (2003). Teaching and Researching Computer-assisted Language Learning;.
Longman
Harmer, Jeremy (2007). The Practice of English Language Teaching – 4th edition (chapters 11;
16 and 19); Longman; New York, USA.
White, Ron and Arndt, Valerie (1991). Process Writing; Longman
“Nadie sabe tanto como para no poder aprender de los demás, ni tan poco como para no tener
algo que enseñar.” Daniel Reyes
You can make comments and watch the slide show for this presentation at:
http://www.freewebs.com/gladysbaya.
Thanks for having joined me today!

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