While it is intriguing to glance back on the perspectives of technology, namely of the computer and word processors, from the 80’s and especially that of Rhet/Compers (being that I’m in my hobbit hole: Second Language Studies), I found myself repeatedly stomping my feet at the authors (I am looking 29 + years back, using a MacBook to write a blogpost for an assignment) and second guessing my criticisms due to my lack of training in this field (again, my hobbit hole). The article I grappled with the most, though, was Moore’s.

Let me explain:

Moore (1985) 

I appreciate Moore’s attempt at investigating the effectiveness of microcomputers on the writing process and believing that “…with minimum instruction and some common sense approaches, beginning writers stand to gain the most from the use of word processing” (p. 55). I do. Yet, I found myself searching for a theoretical framework, a hypothesis, a clear methodology, an explanation of “common sense approaches”, an understanding of the learners’ profile (besides the fact that they’re “economically disadvantaged” and 83% of the class is Hispanic), what constitutes a “beginning writer” – I read none of that. What I did read came across as blaming: “In a more affluent school, I suspect the number of students with typing skills as well as the number of students familiar with computer keyboards would be higher, making instruction even more effective” (p. 57). Where was the discussion on accessibility? Were these students second language learners ( being that TSC, now University of Texas at Brownsville, is only 400 meters away from the border), or bilingual? Were they working while also going to school? Was their education primarily in the States or in Mexico (I’m just going to make the assumption that Hispanic = Mexican here)? Hypothetically speaking, if these students were learning English as a second language or even bilingual, perhaps there are other factors that contributed to the lack of improvement in their writing performance (aside from the fact that maybe there just wasn’t enough time for them to develop those computer skills along with their language skills or maybe Moore’s instruction was faulty in some way). Side note: What constitutes as writing performance here?  

Perhaps the hardest question: How much has really changed these 30 years in terms educators’ views of multilingual writers in FYC and the instruction of technology (and language/writing skills)?