ABSTRACT
Concurrent thinking-aloud protocols are an important source of information about cognitive processes of writers. Our understanding of writing as a mental act has increased immensely since the introduction of thinking aloud and protocol analysis in writing research. Researchers like Hayes and Flower have demonstrated that it is actually possible to gain “direct” insight into the cognitive processes of writers at work and the problems they meet when producing text. That knowledge of writers’ problems and writing strategies can be and is fruitfully used in writing instruction.
