Okay, so being perhaps the token Luddite of the 605 group, I must say I hope I'm not as grouchy as Chapman. It appears that the author is basically giving the same warning we have heard and discussed before: There is the danger of letting instruction in technology take over or displace the instruction of composition. While I see that this could happen among instructors who do not have clear goals for students' use of the technology, I fail to see technology as the Godzilla of the composition world. I think as long as the teacher (and students) see a clear purpose for the use of the technology in the process of writing, it can be quite a constructive tool. There is one aspect of Chapman's article in particular I disagree with and that is the following:

"Similarly, knowing how to produce a Web page is a useful skill, but there is no indication that it will improve a student’s ability to write. Indeed, no research has shown that computer instruction of any kind will result in better student writing (Wahlstrom & Selfe, 1994). Learning the mechanics of Web-page production is not a bad thing in itself, but it will not achieve the basic goals of the composition course."

I think web-page production can make students better writers as the completion of the page and its content requires students to consider their statement of purpose, audience, context, arrangement, design, and medium. But we all know this already. So, peace out.

CE