Uses trademarks that are calculated misspellings, bumper sticker slogans, the strained and pretentious language of Howard Cosell, and governmental jargon to illustrate how to attune students to the magic and power of language, while poking fun at language abuse. (RL)

Compares five style manuals for their differences in stipulating the mechanical rules of preparing research reports. Notes that the really necessary criteria for judging technical writing are legibility, effective presentation, and honesty of content. (RL)

Considers the reasons for making the rhetorical choices that constitute a writer's "voice." Examines teaching models that help students learn how to influence meaning through the rhetorical choices they make. (RL)

Provides six propositions concerning the use of vocabulary in business writing. Suggests practical exercises for teaching these propositions to business students. (RL)

Describes three class activities that help students analyze the mass media messages of political candidates and that give students insights into language manipulation techniques. (RL)

Current practices and materials for teaching English as a second language (ESL) contain oversimplifications about English based on the assumption of a uniform language type and standard of usage, presented to foreign learners for pedagogical clarity. ESL teachers may be aware of the language's diversity but are not prepared to provide…

Proposes that technical writing teachers ask their students to analyze the ethos--the revelation of a writer's character through the rhetorical choices a writer makes--of the profession they are preparing to enter. Provides examples of such analysis. (RL)

This book addresses African American identity and communication and articulates how African Americans define themselves and membership in their group as well as how they percent intra- and inter-ethnic communication. Communication is viewed as a socially constructed process that revolves around membership in ethnic cultures. They explicate core…

Shows that the analysis of verbs in short stories is a valuable teaching method for synthesizing studies of grammar and literature. (RL)

The essays in this volume enunciate the pressing need for a theoretical framework for the study of technical communication. The first part of the volume provides an overview of extensive ways to study technical communication. Subsequent chapters discuss humanistic approaches to technical communication, the history of technical communication,…

Research is reviewed which is related to everyday language experiences of children. Particular emphasis is given to the ways caregivers and teachers can use these research findings to help children understand and use language effectively in a variety of situations, especially those involving learning. (MP)

This volume of the annual review includes introductory remarks by G. Richard Tucker and these papers: "Current Issues in Bilingualism: An Update of Directions in Research" (Braj B. Kachru); "Psycholinguistics: Application. The Writing System as a Native Language for the Deaf" (Danny D. Steinberg); "Sociolinguistics: Theory" (Monica Heller);…

Prepared as part of a series applying recent research in oral and written communication instruction to classroom practice, this booklet focuses on how children and young adults make meaning in speech and writing and on ways teachers can encourage their language development. Following a brief introduction, the first major section of the booklet…

This book uses an ethnographic approach to collect and analyze patterns of language and culture that affect interracial communication and culture. The study selects patterns of behavior, or elements within patterns, and maps black and white cognitive territory in order to reveal the cultural reasons for communications difficulties. The book…