The Effects of On-line and Pre-task Planning on Descriptive Writing of Iranian EFL Learners

The aim of this paper was to investigate the effects of pre-task planning (PTP) and on-line planning (OLP) on descriptive writing of EFL learners. It is discussed extensively that planning factor influences task performance of language learners. Thirty seven learners of English as a foreign language, aged between 19 and 24, were recruited and randomly assigned into two groups with pre-task and on-line planning conditions. The participants in PTP group were given 10 minutes to plan their performance before the main task performance, while the participants in OLP group had to begin writing immediately but they could take as much as time they liked. The collected data was then coded and analyzed using independent samples test statistical procedure. The results of data analysis showed planning time had no effect on complexity and accuracy of participants' performance but it influenced positively the fluency of PTP group.