ABSTRACT
Written language disorders are symptomatic for a large percentage of adults with learning disabilities. As the demands of literacy are increasing daily, an understanding of the processes that influence written language production becomes not only a theoretical interest but also a pragmatic necessity. Mastery of basic written expression skills is a requirement for graduation from high school, entry into and exit from postsecondary institutions (technical schools, universities), and success on the job. For instance, the majority of states have graduation exit examinations requiring essay writing. The College Board recently added an essay section to the Scholastic Achievement Test I (SAT), a change that underscores the importance of written expression skills in higher education.
