Chapter 4. The Temporal Dimension and Problem-solving Nature of Foreign Language Composing Processes. Implications for Theory

Past and future research agendas on writing strategies: Conceptualizations, inquiry methods, and research findings

“…The main groups of L2 writers in focus in this body of work have been second and foreign language university students (e.g., Csizér & Tankó, 2015;Manchón et al, 2009;Sasaki, 2004Sasaki, , 2007 writers (e.g., Beare & Bourdages 2007) and secondary school students (e.g., Maarof & Murat, 2013;Schoonen et al, 2009Schoonen et al, , 2011Simeon, 2016;Tillema, 2012;Tillema, van den Bergh, Rijlaarsdam, & Sanders, 2011). Given the nature of research preoccupations and the fact that the phenomena under the spotlight are not always directly accessible, data collection procedures have included introspective techniques (e.g., think-aloud protocols or stimulated recalls), survey data collection procedures (i.e., questionnaires or interviews), text analysis, and computerized tracking (e.g., keystroke logging), often triangulating data from several sources.…”

“…As for learner-related variables, plenty of scholarly attention has been paid to L2 proficiency (e.g., Cumming 1989; Manchón et al, 2009;Sasaki, 2000Sasaki, , 2004, and degree of writing competence or expertise, with important differences reported between skilled and unskilled writers (e.g., Chien, 2012;Cumming, 1989;Raoofi, Binandeh, & Rahmani, 2017). These two factors have been found to influence the quantitative and qualitative use of strategies, as well as the effect that a given strategy may have (see Roca de Larios et al, 2002, for a thorough review).…”

“…These two factors have been found to influence the quantitative and qualitative use of strategies, as well as the effect that a given strategy may have (see Roca de Larios et al, 2002, for a thorough review). Additional writer-related variables investigated include gender (McMullen, 2009), motivation, (e.g., Csizér & Tankó, 2015), or the writer's mental model of writing, that is, the set of conceptions and beliefs that guide writing performance (e.g., Cumming, 1989;Devine, Raley, & Boshoff, 1993;Manchón et al, 2009;Nicolás-Conesa et al, 2014).…”

“…Manchón et al, 2009;Roca de Larios et al, 1999). For instance, argumentative tasks were found to trigger more decisions involving simultaneous thinking about gist and language than letter writing (Cumming, 1989), and backtracking behavior was found to differ in narrative and argumentative tasks (Manchón et al, 2000).…”

“…Research concerned with the qualitative and quantitative use of strategies in L2 writing has provided holistic descriptions of L2 writers' composing behavior either (a) globally (cf. Cumming 1989;Manchón et al, 2009;Sasaki, 2000Sasaki, , 2002 or (b) with reference to just one macro-writing process, be this planning (cf. Akyel, 1994;Manchón & Roca de Larios, 2007a), formulation (e.g., Chenoweth & Hayes, 2001;Roca de Larios et al, 2001;Zimmermann, 2000), or revision (e.g., Porte, 1995Porte, , 1996Porte, , 1997Sengupta, 2000;Takagaki, 2003).…”