The effect of task complexity on second language learners' accuracy in narrative writing tasks

This study explores the synergistic effects of pre-task planning time and +/- Here-and-Now variable on accuracy in second language education. 140 intermediate proficiency level learners of English as a Foreign Language were assigned to one of the 4 groups in the study (i.e., Planned Here-and-Now, Unplanned Here-and-Now, Planned There-and-Then, and Unplanned There-and-Then) to write out a narrative task based on a series of pictures. The participants' output was coded and measured for grammatical accuracy. The results showed that providing learners with planning time and increasing complexity along +/- Here-and-Now variable did not have a strong effect on learners' accuracy. Moreover, no significant differences were found for the impact of planning on accuracy between the two levels of complexity. However, the fact that the impact of increasing task complexity along  +/- Here-and-Now variable on accuracy was greater under planned conditions suggests that attention can be efficiently allotted to accuracy.