Final answer:
Students are most independent in the writing process when they apply their writing skills to produce a draft, supervised minimally by a teacher. This shows that they have internalized the steps of writing, including prewriting and revision, and can manage these steps on their own.
Step-by-step explanation:
The writing process is an important component of developing writing skills and achieving independence in writing tasks. Among the instructional models provided, the model where students are engaged at the most independent level in the writing process is when a teacher observes as students apply their writing skills to produce a draft during the creation of a writing piece.
This model reflects the independence gained from internalizing the stages of the writing process including prewriting, drafting, peer review, and revision, and allows students to demonstrate their ability to engage in these steps without direct teacher intervention.