Managing the complexity of writing
Résumé
This conference addresses the issue of the cognitive complexity of text writing. Writing a text is indeed a particularly complex activity from a cognitive point of view because it involves many mental mechanisms, most of which require large amounts of mental resources and can operate simultaneously.
One of the challenges of learning to write is therefore for the writer to acquire skills and implement strategies that lead to cognitive fluidity and reduce the mental cost of writing.
This lecture will therefore begin with a description of the cognitive mechanisms involved in writing. The writing processes involved will be detailed as well as how they are articulated when composing a text. The role of working memory will be described, with particular emphasis on the cost of writing and the engagement of executive functions.
Secondly, a more practical perspective will be adopted. The aim will be to suggest ways in which writers can overcome the apprehension that writing can engender, and how to deal with the inherent complexity of text composition.