Broader Approaches to Defining, Assessing, and Strengthening Executive Control in Writing

Abstract

Narrow definitions of executive function (EF) are contrasted with a broad perspective on executive control that compares Olive’s description of executive control of the writing process and Graham’s Writing within Communities (WWC) model with the Holarchical Model of Executive Control (HMEC). Assessment of EFs is discussed within the context of writing tasks rather than a domain-general perspective. Examples are provided demonstrating a cascading production analysis method for comparing norm-referenced writing test subtest scores to identify cascading production decrements. The evidence-based self-regulated strategy development (SRSD) approach to strengthening executive control to improve writing is compared to a generalized approach to strengthening executive control for multiple purposes derived from the HMEC and EF intervention research reviews. The chapter closes with a brief commentary on the past, present and future of researching and applying broad and narrow perspectives on strengthening executive control to help improve writing skills.