Willingness to communicate (WTC) in a target language is considered a critical variable impacting engagement when students learn the language. Notwithstanding the research conducted on WTC of students, fewer attempts have been made to investigate their willingness to listen (WTL), especially WTL augmentation. To address this gap, this research…

Two strategies for teaching elementary students to distinguish relevant from irrelevant material are described. The word associates strategy provides students instruction in writing or stating a generalization that expresses the criteria for relevance. The defending a point of view strategy provides instruction in developing relevant arguments to…

Discusses how junk mail letters can be used to teach students about rhetorical choices and the process of writing. (SRT)

Presents both an argument and a suggestion for making the teaching of "thought" a visible and substantial component of the English curriculum. (Author/RK)

Parliamentary procedure might best be taught in a context specific format; it would be better understood by students if not taught as a "stand alone" subject. Since the basic concepts of argumentation theory--propositions, stasis, and presumption and burden of proof--are reinforced by the rules of parliamentary procedure, instructors can…

Noting that the process of making and supporting generalizations and argumentation are two thinking strategies that cut across almost every subject area, this paper presents several class activities designed to improve students' ability to make and support generalizations and produce arguments in a written (or oral) composition. The first activity…

Presents an activity for senior high government courses about how President Johnson used his powers of persuasion to obtain civil rights legislation. Students analyze the effectiveness of arguments and persuasive techniques in two letters from President Johnson to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. (RM)

This guide is intended for use in an eight-session course designed to develop the presentation skills required of persons employed in the manufacturing and service industries. The course is structured so that, upon its completion, students will be able to accomplish the following: identify the traits of good and bad speakers; research and organize…

Describes a teaching method for reading and writing instruction to be used with college developmental reading students that involves writing reactions to editorials in the campus newspaper. (SRT)

This document, which was written for adult educators in Georgia, offers instructional plans and practical strategies for helping students in adult literacy, adult basic education, General Educational Development, and English-as-a-second-language programs become critical television viewers. The document begins with a discussion of why television…

A list of grievances comprises the longest portion of the Declaration of Independence, but the source of the document's power is its firm philosophic foundation. In this unit, the teacher can capitalize on the propensity to complain to increase student awareness of the precedents behind the Declaration of Independence. The unit can help students…

This article details an undergraduate/graduate-level, experimental, marine science education course utilizing interactive student participation concerning the relationship between individual property interests and coastal protection legislation in the aftermath of hurricane Hugo in 1989. Students successfully gained an understanding of the…

Designed for a minimum amount of teacher supervision, this guide consists of introductory practice and evaluative activities for teaching secondary school students about critical judgment. A sample grade ladder and calendar help students self-schedule and keep track of their grade and points. The activity unit is preceded by a teacher rationale,…

This curriculum guide for a public literacy course uses letters to the editor as a way of introducing adult literacy and basic education students to public debate. It consists of three parts. Part 1 is an introduction that provides background, describes how to analyze letters, and details the course structure. Part 2 is a comprehensive teacher's…

Explains how a Forensic Science and Criminology unit can help in the development of science process skills, mastery of laboratory techniques, and assist in value clarification. Examples of investigations and activities that have been successful with fifth- and sixth-grade students are included. (ML)