This review focuses on microcomputer software designed to improve the writing skills of students of English as a Second Language (ESL) at the college level. It presents a case for the use of computers in teaching ESL, provides guidelines and suggestions for evaluating or creating software and programs, and reviews representative software, including materials from the Minnesota Educational Computer Consortium, Regents/ALA, BIPACS, Dormac, Computer Curriculum Corporation, Hartley, Teacher's Friend, and PLATO. The applicability of such word processing packages as Bank Street and Franklin AceWriter to the ESL class is addressed. Quality control in ESL software development is urged, and methods of achieving such control are outlined. Several specific computer assisted instruction (CAI) projects currently in the planning stage or already underway at the City University of New York are specifically described, as well as research on the use of computers in teaching ESL. An informal glossary of computer terminology and a list of sources and resources are included. (LMM)