Characteristics of interactive oral and computer-mediated peer group talk and its influence on revision

Abstract

This article details a functional and qualitative study of interactive oral and computer-mediated communication (CMC)-generated (Norton Connect) peer response group talk and its influence on revision. The interactive peer groups in both environments talked primarily about their writing. However, the talk had different qualities when students used different media, suggesting that medium shapes talk. Oral talk focused contextually on abstract, global idea development, whereas Connect talk focused more on concrete writing tasks and group management. Each environment generated qualitatively different talk regarding referential and phatic contact. Students revised using ideas generated from both oral and Connect talk. However, revision changes revealed different qualities when developed in different environments, suggesting that medium shapes revision. Revision from Connect talk included more frequent direct use of peer ideas, whereas revision from oral talk included more frequent intertextual (imitative and indirect) and self-generated idea use.