Computer-based process-genre approach in English composition writing

Abstract

This experiment is based on the theory of process-oriented approach from social cognitive psychology perspective and the theories of genre analysis from the angle of functional linguistics and social-linguistics. It is a practical research which aims for the teaching reform of English writing at the college level in China. It has been implemented in the last four years, which is a continuation of the teaching experiment adopting the “genre analysis approach” from 2005 to 2009. The purpose of the reform is to further promote the exploration into and research on teaching English writing in regular institutions of higher learning. The subjects involved in this round of experiment are 400 sophomores majoring in English from a provincial regular institution of higher learning. The paper reports the visible progress made in students' writing resulting from the reform in the teaching approach and the improvement in the teaching environment and teaching means.