The role of reading strategies in integrated L2 writing tasks

Integrated second-language writing tasks elicit writing performances that involve other abilities such as reading or listening. Thus, understanding the role of these other abilities is necessary for interpreting performance on such tasks. This study used an inductive analysis of think-aloud protocol data and interviews to uncover the reading strategies of 12 non-native English writers who completed an integrated reading-writing task. Strategy frequency was considered overall, during composing, and across writers. Word-level strategies were most common along with global and mining strategies. Higher scoring writers used more mining and global strategies, while lower scoring writers showed similar frequency in overall strategy use but differences in choice of strategy. These results suggest that reading plays a role in the process and performance of integrated writing tasks, an important consideration when using such tasks for learning or assessment.