Visible Language


An independent scholarly journal published continuously since 1967.

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Writing as Problem Solving

John R. Hayes , Linda S. Flower

ProQuest  EBSCO

A top down approach employing protocol analysis can yield valuable data about writing processes. The main features of composition apparent in the data are: writing is goal directed, writing processes are hierarchically organized, some of the processes may interrupt others, recursion is possible, and writing goals may be modified as the result of writing. The first four of these features are embodies in a process model of composition.