Offers techniques to make book reports a more meaningful experience for students. Suggests guidelines for book selections and for what the students should look for in their reading. Lists alternatives to traditional book reports that allow an evaluative approach to reading and provide an opportunity for creativity and critical thought. (DK)

Using an A-to-Z keyword format, this article presents research findings and suggestions on effective use of homework assignments. The article suggests appropriate amounts of homework by grade level, emphasizes the importance of feedback, recommends use of notebooks as organizational tools, and notes the value of displaying completed homework. (JDD)

Discusses how an act assignment exposes students to federal agencies; experts and novices contribute and learn in PR case course; students control in-class PR agency; cabletext service shows good results; advertising focus emphasizes creative writer; writing by number aids story structure; student photo club sells lab supplies, for revenue; and…

Presents guidelines for an efficient class trip: pre-visit the site with the parent chaperones; delegate groups of students to carry out specific assignments during the field trip; and plan class follow-up activities. (SJL)

A goal-attainment intervention dealing with completion of project-type assignments was used with 6 students, ages 12-14, with learning disabilities. Training in the goal-attainment procedures increased the number of projects successfully completed and the quality of goal setting and goal actualization responses. Subjects had difficulty generating…

The suggested assignments in this manual were written to provide the high school economics teacher with ideas for projects and exercises that students might do as homework or as long-term activities. They range from very simple assignments that should take only a few minutes of the student's time, to projects that might require several days or an…

Describes a student field project involving the estimation of a maximum rate of erosion for a local area. Identifies the factors influencing erosion and outlines the method of investigation. (GS)

Reports on a study of 110 students in advanced undergraduate psychology courses to assess their retrospective impressions about their introductory psychology course, current course selections and performance, and future academic plans. Finds that students who had participated in a science fair gave significantly higher ratings. (CFR)

This qualitative study explored college teaching in an "apprenticeship" setting, specifically the architectural design studio. The study examined studio teachers' efforts to design effective project assignments and to help students move successfully through those assignments. Two design teachers were interviewed and observed as their students…

End-of-term assignments proven to be successful alternatives to college term papers include abstracts of journal articles on assigned topics, book reviews, group papers and projects, thought papers presented to class, and take-home final examinations. They change the professor's role form authority to facilitator and are worth the time spent…

Describes a research project for high school students in which they write to an important figure in psychology to ascertain their contributions to the field. Students sent letters to 113 psychologists and received replies from 72 of them. Reports students were enthusiastic about the project. (NL)

While the term paper can be a worthwhile teaching device, the project must be carefully structured to be effective. Creative teachers can devise other, equally effective activities to extend student knowledge of and skills in using library resources, such as writing annotated bibliographies, practical research assignments, and projects to evaluate…

Presents a lesson plan for seventh-grade students in which they learn respect for themselves and others and apply social studies skills. Explains that the students create timelines, interview someone of an older generation, and create a Venn diagram comparing that person's life to their own. Includes suggestions for writing assignments based on…

The Civil War was the first American war thoroughly caught on film. Mathew Brady and his crew of photographers captured many images of this divisive war, ranging from portraits to battle scenes. These photographs--over 1,000--are in the American Memory Collection's "Selected Civil War Photographs, 1861-1865." This lesson plan asks…