Writing as a Recursive and Messy Process and Some Implications for EFL Writing Classes

The present paper explores rationales for the process-oriented approach to teaching writing and their implications for EFL writing classes. The product-oriented traditional approach to writing has put too much emphasis on linguistic aspects of writing. It fails to see the enormous complexity of the act of composing. In the process-oriented paradigm, writing is regarded as a messy process leading to clarity and the writer discovers meaning instead of merely' finding an appropriate structure in which to package ideas already developed from the beginning. Based on the underlying assumptions, some suggestions are made for EFL writing classes. Firstly, practitioners should be aware that writing is a recursive activity in which the writer moves backward and forwards between drafting and revising, with stages of re-planning in between. Secondly, writing teachers should help the student writers build an awareness of themselves as a writer and encourage their sense of confidence in writing. Lastly, students should be encouraged to pay their attention to content revision at first, and delay editing changes until the last draft.