The purpose of this study is to assess the learning effect of a multilingual web-based argumentative writing instruction model called the Ensayo Científico Multilingüe (ECM, Multilingual Scientific Essay) adapting the didactic model called Genre-based Writing Instruction (GBWI) in an experiment conducted over three months. For this purpose, a quasi-experimental research model was applied to 150 students in the experimental group and 150 in the control group, with two measurements, pre and post-test, for three dependent variables: (a) writing metacognition and its dimensions; (b) written argumentative self-efficacy; and (c) rhetorical moves and steps of an argumentative essay. The latter variable was measured by the content analysis method. Variables (a) and (b) were both measured with instruments validated in a population of 518 university students using structural equations. The findings demonstrate the positive effect of the ECM, which combines WBWI and GBWI in argumentative written learning in the students’ mother tongue in all variables measured, applying statistics such as the Shapiro–Wilk statistic, parametric contrast, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. In relation to the findings, with respect to the evaluated variables, it was discovered, specifically, that the rhetorical steps in which the students showed a significant improvement were innovations, quotes/research, definitions of concepts, refutations, definitive reasons, and bibliographical references. Likewise, the rhetorical steps that did not present significant differences following the application of the ECM were discovered, and they were: reason summary, formulation of premise, and reasons for. Furthermore, it can be stated that for the ECM there was an increase, above all, in awareness of the following metacognitive dimensions: (a) writing self-regulation; (b) writing planning; and (c) writing revision, as well as argumentative self-efficacy. The novelties of this research with respect to the precedents reside in that it offers valid and concrete results on the effect of a multilingual web design integrated into a well-defined didactic model of argumentative writing on writing metacognition and its dimensions, argumentative structuring and its rhetorical steps, and argumentative self-efficacy. The related studies consider only some of these variables, but not all of them together or their complexity. These results have allowed us to establish specific didactic–technological proposals for improving the ECM that are transferable to didactic designs to guide written argumentation at higher academic levels using multilingual web technologies and integrating the metacognitive, behavioral, and motivational dimensions of writing.

The United Nations 2030 agenda includes quality university education, highlighting the importance of writing competence, as a basic skill for the dissemination of sustainable knowledge. However, there is little evidence of the factors that predict effective written communication to support such quality. Among these factors, the literature highlights motivation and writing metacognition, as well as the adequate structuring of the academic and/or scientific genre. The main novelty of the present research is the study of the relationships between the mentioned factors, measured with validated instruments. To this end, content analysis is first applied to determine the rhetorical moves of argumentative essays written by a sample of 72 university students. Secondly, the correlations between each of the rhetorical moves, metacognition and argumentative writing self-efficacy are calculated. The relationships are studied in depth, applying step-by-step linear regression models. Finally, the dependence of the results, observed with respect to unmeasured factors, is contrasted by means of a confirmatory analysis based on structural equations. The analyses show that it is the practical ability to express rhetorical moves—Conclusion and Bibliographic References—which predicts a students’ writing metacognition. Moreover, the minor relationship that argumentative self-efficacy shows with the expression of rhetorical moves, compared to writing metacognition, point to the need to consider another motivational dimension that is driving the learning of the argumentative essay at university level, a hypothesis that is confirmed with the structural equations model. These, and other findings, allow for the establishment of a series of educational quality criteria for the empowerment of written argumentation in academic and scientific contexts.

This study aims to evaluate the learning of writing competencies in a digital environment, also called “Escritura Argumentativa” (EA) (Argumentative Writing). For this purpose, a quasi-experimental design is deployed with an experimental group and a control group of 50 undergraduate students each. In this design, two repeated measurements, pre-test and post-test, are applied to three dependent variables: a) metacognition in writing, b) self-efficacy in argumentative writing, and c) structure of the argumentative text. Thus, it consists of a mixed design as validated questionnaires are selected for variables a and b, whereas variable c is described through the application of content analysis. The results indicate that the competencies developed in the use of digital resources, applications and tools, once integrated in the EA environment, significantly improve the writing competencies, which are taught when students use their native language (Spanish).

Este artículo presenta una investigación sobre competencias en la escritura, expresadas por diferentes muestras de estudiantes universitarios. Estas competencias activan procesos universales de desarrollo escritor, esto es: procesos procedimentales-declarativos, condicionales, afectivos y socioculturales. La innovación de esta investigación es describir operativamente las competencias escritoras para su desarrollo en la formación inicial del profesorado. Otra innovación es el estudio de competencias escritoras en diferentes niveles universitarios. Para todo ello se aplica una metodología mixta. Por último, esta investigación fundamenta el diseño e implementación de la enseñanza de competencias escritoras.

La finalidad de esta investigación es describir, los procesos cognitivos-lingüísticos, metacognitivo-afectivos y socioculturales implicados en la composición escrita de estudiantes universitarios. Procesos que de forma universal son aplicados por lo escritores expertos en cualquier lengua, por esto se pueden considerar procesos de desarrollo escritor multilingüe. Además estos procesos son básicos en el uso de la comunicación tecnológica. Para lograr ese fin se aplica un diseño metodológico cualitativo, en el que se aplica una entrevista cognitiva escrita a una muestra de 86 estudiantes universitarios. El método de Análisis de Contenido permite aplicar un sistema de categorías que define operativamente los procesos escritores expresados por los estudiantes. En base al recuento de frecuencias se destaca que los estudiantes universitarios analizados muestran cierto nivel de competencia procedimental, afectiva y sociocultural de la escritura, y se evidencia la necesidad de diseñar programas para lograr un uso profesional y científico de la misma, que insista en procesos condicionales.

Organizar un texto de forma argumentativa, es una demanda de primer orden en las tareas académicas universitarias, porque: a) ayuda al estudiante a sintetizar ideas y a profundizar en la compresión y expresión de sus propios conocimientos, en cualquier área; y b) contribuye, de un modo decisivo, a la construcción de su identidad cultural desde una perspectiva crítica. En esta investigación se aplica una metodología multimétodo, concretamente: a) el análisis de contenido, usando el programa Nvivo, para describir las estructuras gramaticales, los contenidos interculturales y las competencias escritoras, expresadas por una muestra de estudiantes; y b) el análisis estadístico con el programa SPSS para descubrir la correlación entre las competencias escritoras y los elementos estructurales. Se concluye con las necesidades de formación delos estudiantes en niveles universitarios para el desarrollo de la composición argumentativa, y una propuesta didáctica que potencie las competencias comunicativas escritas interculturales.