This essay examines the collateral benefits to faculty from a guided learning literature review project for students. We describe a 3-year continuum of project creation and refinement designed to foster critical thinking and writing for second year dental students at the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. We discuss…

Argues that the perennial problem of boring student writing is solved when assignments provide writers with target readers, enabling students to find their appropriate voice. Discusses a sample assignment in which students explain how to do something they do well to readers who don't know how to do it. (JG)

Describes a poetry writing assignment that teaches students the importance of place and objects in expressing emotions about a childhood memory. (RL)

Explains how to use various periodicals to demonstrate to composition students that writing style is both accessible and controllable. (AEA)

Argues that asking students to write in concrete images about specific events and places serves to emphasize the importance of writing from detailed personal experiences. (RL)

A poet relates her personal writing problems, which she resolved by completing some of the assignments she had used in her classes. (RL)

Advocates using the case approach in college writing classes. Suggests that asking students to play the roles of participants in a situation, whether real or imaginary, helps them learn to address a particular audience with a clear purpose. Offers a case approach with discussion questions and possible assignments. (RL)

Discusses technical writing textbooks and assignments that can be used in advanced courses in technical writing. (RL)

One of the best ways to enrich students' social studies experience is to include assignments in which students interact with social studies content and skills. In this article, the author explains how teachers can use writing exercises to encourage such interaction. She describes the following writing activities: (1) acrostics; (2) haiku; (3)…

Reports on an interdisciplinary teachers' workshop procedure for collaborating on theme and essay question assignment writing. Outlines the process of examining assignments and describes the discussion of one assignment critiqued in the workshop. Emphasizes the relationship between assignment purpose and writing assessment and the students'…

Describes a writing assignment that uses the song "America the Beautiful" to point the following six reasons why America is beautiful: skies, mountains, grain, Pilgrims, heroes, and dreams. (NKA)

A study compared two methods of teaching writing by varying the number of writing assignments. The group with less writing practice and more theory instruction was found to be equal in achievement to the group that received extra writing practice. (A suggested method of teaching business writing is presented.) (LRA)

Suggests ways of designing poetry writing assignments so that students are motivated to practice a particular writing skill. (RL)

Presents an assignment that helps technical writing students develop skills in preparing literature reviews. (RL)

Contends that the subtleties of good writing are best learned by imitating proper models. Notes that the trick to using imitation in writing instruction is knowing how to assign imitations and differentiate them carefully from plagiarism. Offers exercises as suggestions and student writing as illustrations. (RL)