A library skills program for freshman composition students was redesigned to correct problems caused by a lack of uniformly accepted methods of implementation. Changes made included a revised workbook, streamlined class sessions, enforcement of due dates for exercises, and improved communication with faculty. Three references are listed. (MES)

Describes Sentence Patterns, a software program designed to help teach sentence structure to college freshman composition students. Topics discussed include traditional teaching methods for the effective use of written language, software development, use in computer labs, and student surveys used for courseware evaluation. (LRW)

A process-oriented freshman composition instructor who stresses invention, drafting, and revision can simultaneously integrate a form of grammatical instruction. Various methods and strategies, both from experience and research on grammar from the classical to the contemporary era, suggest such a creative integration. First, the teaching of…

Freshman composition students were given six assignments designed to help them examine, analyze, and put their memories into context so that the students could use their memories to begin exploring and creating their own "truths" through language. Two essential types of memory were identified: (1) natural memory, memorizing word for word, which…

Describes the bibliographic instruction program at Columbia State Community College's Learning Resource Center, which involves a mini-course taken in conjunction with freshman composition. Provides a syllabus and course outline. (DMM)

The way in which the English Department of the University of South Alabama handled the large influx of English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students in its freshman writing program is described. The university developed classes especially for ESL students with the assistance of the department's ESL specialist. (13 references) (LB)

A field of study sequence designed at the University of Iowa to introduce the research paper to freshman rhetoric students encourages them to view themselves as interpretive anthropologists entering a strange culture and exploring their declared majors or areas of special interest. Each student is responsible for (1) writing an essay in response…

In a required class on literature and composition at Eastern Illinois University, students learn about the short story by writing one of their own. Their stories then become the context for an introduction to literary terminology such as point of view, setting, and use of dialogue versus narration. Having just written their own stories, students…

The shift from limited-capacity personal computers to powerful workstation technology offers an environment for writing instruction that allows networking, simultaneous performance of many tasks, and tools for designing custom lessons and individual applications. At Allegheny College (Pennsylvania), a first-year writing course is supported…

A peer training system for teaching assistants (TAs) that is sponsored by the Writing Program Resource Center at the University of Massachusetts is described from the perspective of the center coordinator. The center seeks to improve teaching in the freshman composition program by providing TAs feedback in a non-threatening and understanding way…

Two faculty members from a California community college and a nearby state university worked together to articulate placement and assessment procedures in writing courses at the two institutions to better serve students transferring from one to the other. Historically the institutions, Bakersfield College (California) (BC) and California State…

In this document, the first of a projected series of reports on ensuring student success, student equity, and rigorous instructional standards, an overview is provided of the steps taken by Glendale Community College (GCC) to refine and improve student placement in the English curriculum. Following introductory material outlining factors…

This first-year progress report considers the objectives and achievements of CompuEnglish, a project developed at Saddleback College's North Campus (California) to introduce word processing skills into traditional composition classes. Section I offers a summary report on progress as of 1985, reviewing the four phases of project implementation and…

A description is provided of the use of a group process approach to the Freshman English research paper at El Paso Community College. After highlighting problems associated with traditional approaches to freshman research papers, an overview of the group process approach is provided, along with warnings for instructors who might view the approach…

A mentor system that pairs a new teaching assistant (TA) with an experienced TA has been established at the University of Massachusetts Writing Program. Recruited as volunteers, experienced TAs can consult with the Resource Center staff and with more experienced mentors concerning their role as counselor. Usually, mentors and mentees exchange…