The Effect of Writing Proficiency onWriting Planning Strategy Use: A Case Study of Saudi Learners of English

Abstract

This study investigated English language writing planning strategies (WPSs) of Saudi Arabian third-year male university students and the effect of writing proficiency on the frequency of use of these strategies. The participants were 197 Saudi learners of English as a Foreign Language attending their third year of university in Saudi Arabia. The data used in this study were obtained using a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. The collected data were computed and analysed via descriptive statistics, the t test, and one-way repeated measure ANOVA. The participants reported applying most of the strategies in the questionnaire at a level higher than the midpoint of the scale. They reported applying only a few of those strategies (i.e. less than three) but all strategies were reported to be used by at least one of the subjects. Concerning English writing proficiency, a significant difference between good and poor writers was found in the frequency of overall use of WPSs (z = -2.527, P = .011). The results showed that good writers claim to use WPSs more frequently than do poor writers.