One Hand Washes the Other and Both Wash the Face: Individuality versus Collaboration in L2 Writing

Year 2019, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 131 - 151, 24.03.2019

Merve Savaşçı Seval Kaygisiz

https://doi.org/10.32601/ejal.543789

Cited By: 2

Abstract

The aim of this pre-experimental
study is twofold: (1) to investigate the comparative effectiveness of
individual, pair, and group writing conditions in L2 writing classes, and (2)
to explore students’ perceptions about each of these conditions. The
participants were university-level Turkish EFL learners studying in the English
Preparatory Program of a state university. The data for investigating the
effectiveness of these writing conditions came from in-class paragraph writing
tasks whereas students’ perceptions were investigated through an open-ended
questionnaire and semi-structured focus group interviews. The quantitative data
were analyzed by running descriptive statistics analysis, Wilcoxon signed-rank
test, and the Friedman test, and the qualitative data were content analyzed. As
the findings indicated, when the participants wrote in groups they outperformed
those who worked individually or in pairs regarding the (a) fluency, (b)
accuracy, (c) complexity, (d) length, and (e) overall score of the paragraphs.
Besides, perceived advantages and disadvantages of both collaborative writing
(i.e., pair and group writing) and individual writing were pointed out by the
participants. Based on the findings, some pedagogical implications and
suggestions for further research are presented. 

Keywords

Collaborative writing, individual, group, pair, EFL, writing

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