English language learners are frequently unable to benefit from the prevailing
process-writing approaches due to a lack of grammar and vocabulary knowledge
relevant to academic writing. This paper describes how the need for explicit
grammar instruction as part of preparing students to write can be addressed by
using a collection of learner texts and transforming that collection into an online
grammar resource for intermediate nonnative speakers (NNS) of English.
Drawing on research in grammar and writing, the use of learner texts, and online
interactivity, we outline the development and the prototype of the Internet
Writing Resource for the Innovative Teaching of English (iWRITE). We discuss
how iWRITE, through the judicious use of advanced technology (e.g., XML), is
an online embodiment of second language acquisition (SLA) theory that takes
advantage of the Webʼs potential for interactivity.