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From: ix200@sdcc6.UUCP (Bruce Jones)
Newsgroups: net.misc
Subject: Writing, programming, music and mechanics
Message-ID: <2671@sdcc6.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 11-Jun-86 01:26:16 EDT
Article-I.D.: sdcc6.2671
Posted: Wed Jun 11 01:26:16 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 14-Jun-86 05:27:59 EDT
Organization: U.C. San Diego, Academic Computer Center
Lines: 30
Keywords: concatenation and movement

Several months (weeks?) ago there was a discussion on net.singles
about the difficulties of being a "programmer" and how they surfaced
in one's personal life.  One of the digressions from this topic was
when someone made the observation that musicians and  mechanics made
good programmers because they were used to stringing small units
together in ordered ways to produce movement.

My research over the past two years has been how to improve and
foster writing by using electronic mail to facilitate discussions of
social science lecture class topics.  One of the things I notice
reading the news is the overall high quality of the writing in the
articles.  It is not possible to pass this off as being the result
of a few articulate posters, there are too many people involved.  My
point, and question, is this: how much of this is attributable to
a possible correlation between programming and writing?

If there is a correlation, or a researchable chance of one, where
would one begin to look and how could this be used to
recontextualize the writing?  Take for granted that the students
involved are *NOT*, by and large, computer types.  They are usually
freshpersons, taking the class because it is a pre-req and many of
them become enamored with computers as a result.  My job is to get
the disadvantaged students, those with limited basic skills,
"hooked" into participating without loosing the more competent ones.  

Babbling, babbling ... send me your thoughts.
Thanks in advance,
Bruce Jones

bjones@sdcsvax.ARPA