Abstract
This developmental study was designed to assess the accuracy with which patterns of straight lines of various orientations were copied as a function of the degree of motor planning required. Six-, 7-, 8-, and 10-year-old children, and adults, copied one of three types of patterns in both oblique, and horizontal-vertical orientations. The findings support those reported previously (Broderick & Laszlo, 1987 1988), and extend their validity to a variety of patterns comprising these lines. The copying performance for oblique patterns was less accurate than for others. Increasing motor planniing demands affected the accuracy of obliquely orientated patterns detrimentally, without significantly affecting horizontal-vertical orientated patterns, and there was a gradual developmental improvement for patterns comprising oblique lines. Connected units of oblique lines were more accurately copied than discrete units of oblique lines for most age levels. Implications for the teaching of handwriting skills are considered.