Chapter 7: L2 Writing at the K–12 Level: Knowledge Base and Practice in Teaching ELLs

Research in the field of second-language writing has produced a sizeable amount of literature on second-language (L2) writing development. However, as other authors have pointed out, most of the available literature on L2 writing focuses on college-level writers(Ortmeier-Hooper & Enright, 2011). In 1999, Harklau, Losey, and Siegal published their Generation 1.5 Meets College Composition, a book where they used the term generation 1.5 to distinguish learners born, raised, and educated in the United States from other ESL learners. While the term L1.5 has become primarily associated with learners transitioning from high school to college, through the use of the term Harklau et al. pointed out the distinct linguistic, cultural, and educational profiles of learners found at the K–12 level as compared to other groups of language learners.