Brainstorming strategy and writing performance: effects and attitudes

Abstract

The study sought to examine the impact of employing brainstorming strategy, as a pre-writing strategy, on advanced EFL students' writing ability. Moreover, the study sought to investigate the attitudes of the participants in terms of the efficacy of brainstorming for developing writing performance. Sixty participants were randomly assigned to two groups participating in Writing II course at Atlas Language Institute in Yasouj, Iran. The highest as well as the lowest achievers were deleted in order to have an almost homogenous group. The participants were randomly assigned to control (No = 30) and experimental (No = 30) groups. Both groups had the same teacher. Based on the results of the pretest and posttest, learners that were treated with brainstorming made significant progress in writing. Furthermore, questionnaire scores indicated that the majority of the learners found brain storming a useful strategy in enhancing their writing skills. The results of the current study highlight the effectiveness of employing brainstorming as a pre-writing strategy in developing EFL students’ writing skill.