WORD-PROCESSING AND WRITING STRATEGIES

Word processing and writing strategies. The objective of this experime ntal observation is to show how the use of a standard word processor c hanges the writing strategies devised by advanced users during the pro duction of short texts. Empirical research has indicated that word pro cessors. in fact, have a negative impact on writing strategies. Analys is of the conditions under which ''man-machine'' dialogue takes place has shown that screen size and linear management both have an effect o n writing. Before determining the ways in which a word processor can d isrupt common writing practices, we must gain a better understanding o f how a text is actually composed in real time, with or without a comp uter. Although the various writing processes have been clearly identif ied, the functional scenario describing the succession of writing phas es and accompagnying activities is still poorly defined. The marks pro duced by writers on paper, whether linguistic (words, sentence fragmen ts, sentences) or non-linguistic (arrows, underlining, indexation, dia grams, etc.), reflect the planning, translating, and revising processe s being carried out by the writer. Sharples and Pemberton (1990) descr ibe the exact functions of these marks in the elaboration of the ideas to be translated into text form (levels of organization). However, mo re knowledge about their frequency of use at the different stages of t ext composition is required. This is one of the goals of the present e xperimental observation. For the most part, such marks cannot be displ ayed and manipulated on the screen of a standard word processor as the y can on paper. It is therefore crucial that we observe the means empl oyed by writers to adapt their use of these necessary devices to word processing. The main results indicate that writers who use a word proc essor still resort to ''pencil and paper '' for the initial planning. The small amount of text preparation done by computer users (manifeste d by chronological and hierarchical organization marks) compared to wr iters who produce without a word processor is compensated by extensive revision on the screen. However, while writing strategies are highly dependent on production conditions, the quality of the texts produced does not vary significantly. The possibility of eliminating one of the important drawbacks of computer-assisted writing i. e. the fact that the information must be displayed linearly on the screen, is currently being studied by designers of planning aids that accompagny word proc essors. Before such aids can actually be developed, however, more know ledge is needed of the phases of writing and the marks used by writers throughout the production process.