Rewriting Based on Feedback: Automated Computer-Based Feedback on Forms and Tailor-Made Feedback on Content

Abstract

The purpose of this educational research is to clarify whether rewriting based on two kinds of feedback would encourage Japanese learners of English to improve their essays and lead them to write more. Twenty-two undergraduate students who were not majoring in English were recruited as the participants. They took a writing course taught by the author and wrote 3 essays, which were approximately 250 words. After writing the first version of their essay, or Output 1, they received two kinds of feedback: automated-computer based feedback on forms and tailor-made feedback on content. Based on the two kinds of feedback, they rewrote their Output 1. Their rewritten essay is called Output 2. Output 1 and Output 2 were compared and analyzed and the analysis showed that Output 2 was superior to Output 1 both qualitatively and quantitatively.