Self-evaluations of the “stream of thought” in journal writing

Abstract William James’ theoretical model of consciousness known as “the stream of thought” has been applied in this study as an impetus for English as a foreign language learners' self-reflections on the purpose of journal writing. They evaluated their thought processes by following a guided questionnaire designed to elicit thought patterns based on James' concept. After having written their journals over a 3-month period, students were able to trace their strengths and weaknesses and describe their own learning patterns and needs in regard to learning how to write in English for both personal expression and academic writing. Through an analysis of their reflections, certain general patterns emerged in relation to vocabulary acquisition, organizational strategies, invention, personal expression, and thought. These patterns are described as well as examples of individual variation regarding students' conscious awareness of their writing processes.