Structural elements of text help form and convey the notional relationships of the argument, and good readers are therefore alert to them. Obviously, the transaction between a writer and a reader is complex, involving both parties. The concept of the discourse topic recognizes the mutual participation of both parties in textual communication. Our ongoing research is exploring how these structural features might be used, perhaps in combination with the TAT analysis of message content, to illuminate important internal patterns of interaction in the transcript. The TAT is the method of analysis .
Interaction is the criterion for judging conference success .
Using the chronological information provided in the transcripts, we focus in our analysis on the types and patterns of progression of the topics under discussion. If following, we note how far into the progression of the discussion or topic the posting occurs. Patterns are being investigated in relation to variables such as gender, personal communication patterns, and other features of observed conferencing behaviour. Herring's students were more interested in exchanging views than information. We expect to report shortly on an analysis of a much larger amount of transcript material.