SOURCE OF INITIATION: AN INFLUENCE ON THE WRITING OF TWO ADOLESCENTS (COMPOSITION, LEARNING, TEXTUAL, DESCRIPTIVE)
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to collect, describe, analyze, and compare all of the writing adolescents produce both in and out of school during three weeks. The participants were two adolescents, one aged eighteen and one aged thirteen, who were the investigator's offspring. The study focused on the influence of initiation source on their writing. Distinguishing characteristics included evidences of learning, textual style, and behaviors. In addition to written products, data included transcribed audiotapes of interviews designed to obtain both conscious and tacit knowledge of their writing strategies. The presentation of the data was descriptive; data collection and analysis utilized hypothesis generating methodology. Two major categories emerged from the data analysis. These were labeled other-initiated writing and self-initiated writing. Other initiated writing was characterized by impersonal, other-focused learning; predetermined organization; explained personal experience; text-based language register; texts written to prove acquisition of information; routine correcting and recopying, and collaboration for guidance. Self-initiated writing was characterized by reflective, personally focused learning; personally developed organization; relived personal experience; conversational language register; texts written to share, amuse, learn, or for catharsis of emotion, and selective correcting and recopying. A third category of a limited number of texts incorporated characteristics of both other- and self-initiated writing. The major hypotheses resulting from this study were: (a) the source of initiation and the type of interaction between initiator and writer influence written products, writing processes, and the learning that results from writing, and (b) writing is influenced by previous experiences (including reading and writing) and present contexts. The investigator recommended further study of writing initiated by self, others, and combined. The following issues should receive further attention: (a) the relationship of the writer to the initiator; (b) the nature of the task, and (c) the relationship between reading and writing styles.
Subject Area
Curricula|Teaching
Recommended Citation
LEVY, FRAN NEWMARK, "SOURCE OF INITIATION: AN INFLUENCE ON THE WRITING OF TWO ADOLESCENTS (COMPOSITION, LEARNING, TEXTUAL, DESCRIPTIVE)" (1986). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI8624490.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI8624490
