Complexity of the Writing Environment: A Case Study At The Edge Of Chaos

摘要

The purpose of this exploratory case study is to investigate the possibilities and connections among complex adaptive systems and the writing processes of three Colorado State University students in an upper-division composition course taught in a computer-networked classroom as it relates to their physical-material environment. I attempt to fill in the gap of knowledge concerning how the physical-material environment interacts with the complex social and psychological dimensions to affect college students' composition processes. Three primary research questions drive this case study: how does the class setting shape activity within the classroom; what are student attitudes towards reading, writing, and computers; what material resources do students use when they approach a composition assignment. Utilizing classroom observations, writing samples, interviews, surveys, screen-capturing software, and audio and video recordings of the writing processes of students, I analyze three students' writing processes from multiple perspectives to capture an in-depth understanding of how some individual students write. Overall, my findings suggest that the writing process is a complex adaptive process. The most significant areas that this case study illuminates for further research is the impact of economic and social initial conditions that students grow up in developing their writing skills in terms of access to information technologies, interactions with writing, and attitudes towards writing. This study raises more questions than it answers, but it provides insight into further areas of inquiry. In conclusion, I suggest future research into the writing process as a complex adaptive process by examining the writing process with metaphors such as phase space and writing at the edge of chaos to increase our understanding of students' writing processes.