Error Correction Frontier, TESOL 2009

Note: This was moved from http://cesl.siuc.edu/teachers/pd/ecf.html.

Abstract (50 wrds)

Discussions on the efficacy of kinds of error correction in ESL writing or lack thereof have the possibility of degenerating into a saloon brawl. This session, however, will feature rational examination of the evidence, including anecdotal evidence; audience participation welcomed.

Session Description (300 wrds.)

Writing teachers are frequently concerned about the effect their error-correction has on students: does it help them or hurt them? Does it result in grammatical improvement, in the short term or long term? Is it injurious to their self-esteem, more so if the ink is bright red, as opposed to gentle purple? Studies on correction of ESL/EFL writers have had a variety of outcomes and have been used to justify a variety of correction strategies: from the general idea that correction is itself unnecessary if not counterproductive (Truscott, 1996) to more traditional strategies imploring the teacher to correct everything, or, in some cases, to make sure the student "notices" the more egregious errors, or errors of choice. Both new and veteran writing teachers are challenged to find effective correction strategies, given confusing and conflicting evidence, time pressure and a host of other learning outcomes in a given teaching situation. This session hopes to explore research on error correction rationally, solicit evidence from both anecdotes and research, and give participants updated information on a dispute that hasn't been resolved.

Handout for this presentation
Red ink and the OK Corral, 2009

Bibiography (ongoing)

Bitchener, J. (2008). Evidence in support of written corrective feedback. Journal of Second Language Writing, 17(1), 102-118 (abst.).

Ferris, D. (2007, Oct.). Preparing teachers to respond to student writing. Journal of Second Language Writing, 16, 3, Sept. 2007. Online at ScienceDirect, SIUC Library.

Ferris, D. and Roberts, B. (2001, Sept.) Error feedback in L2 writing classes: How explicit does it need to be? Journal of Second Language Writing 10, 3, Aug. 2001, available through ScienceDirect, SIUC Library.

Kietlinska, K. (2006). Revision and ESL Students (pdf). In Revision: History, Theory and Practice, A. Horning and A. Becker, eds. http://wac.colostate.edu/books/horning_revision/.

Leverett, T. (2007). Line editing as a way of life, from Teaching writing in online and paper worlds, TESOL 2007.

Other sources

Charles Nelson's Error Feedback Bibliography, with his posts on error feedback

Teacher's bibliography-Writing (CESL)

Annotated Bibliography (pdf) from A. Horning and A. Becker's Revision: History, Theory and Practice; not strictly esl.