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  • © 2011

Modelling Written Communication

A New Systems Approach to Modelling in the Social Sciences

Authors:

  • Establishes composing as a type of communicative interaction
  • Shows the essential dynamism of writing
  • Offers models of writing to be used for research or composition courses
  • Offers insights into the infinite variety and complexity of individual writing behaviour.

Part of the book series: Methodos Series (METH, volume 8)

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Table of contents (8 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxv
  2. Review of Composition Software

    • Deirdre Pratt
    Pages 1-14
  3. Critical Realism

    • Deirdre Pratt
    Pages 15-35
  4. The Modelling Process

    • Deirdre Pratt
    Pages 37-63
  5. The User’s Model of Composing

    • Deirdre Pratt
    Pages 65-82
  6. Testing Out the User’s Model

    • Deirdre Pratt
    Pages 83-115
  7. The Theoretical Model of Composing

    • Deirdre Pratt
    Pages 117-145
  8. The Explanatory Force of the Models

    • Deirdre Pratt
    Pages 147-170
  9. The Writing Tutor Program

    • Deirdre Pratt
    Pages 171-191
  10. Back Matter

    Pages 193-225

About this book

This book offers an alternative view to current postmodern approaches to composition. It takes a critical realist stance to arrive at the “essence” of written communication with the aim of informing a practical application: a computerised  writing tutor. Following Robert Franck’s seminal work on modelling, a theoretical model of writing was first formulated, consisting of an architecture of functions which constitute the prerequisites for effective communication. Next, an applied model - a composing algorithm with an input option - was developed, showing composing to be a systemic social process with intra- and extra-systemic variation. The algorithm provided the design template for a writing tutor program which models for the learner both the systemic and the socially situated nature of writing. This book establishes composing as a communicative interaction, and shows the essential dynamism of writing, while offering an exemplar of a systems approach to modelling in the social sciences.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Durban, South Africa

    Deirdre Pratt

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Modelling Written Communication

  • Book Subtitle: A New Systems Approach to Modelling in the Social Sciences

  • Authors: Deirdre Pratt

  • Series Title: Methodos Series

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9843-6

  • Publisher: Springer Dordrecht

  • eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, Social Sciences (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-90-481-9842-9Published: 20 January 2011

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-94-007-3506-4Published: 25 February 2013

  • eBook ISBN: 978-90-481-9843-6Published: 19 January 2011

  • Series ISSN: 1572-7750

  • Series E-ISSN: 2542-9892

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XXVI, 226

  • Topics: Methodology of the Social Sciences, Literacy, Computer Appl. in Arts and Humanities

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access