Soft skills, the interpersonal skills that demonstrate the ability to work with others, are essential for job attainment and advancement. However, as noted in current research and as echoed by employers, a significant soft skills gap exists in communication (oral and written), teamwork, and critical thinking that can prevent workers from advancing…

This article describes the ENGL 1023 Composition II course at the University of Arkansas, generally taken in the second semester of a student's first year and is taught within the context of literary studies or as a special topics section approved by the program in rhetoric and composition (PRC). The course is meant to be an introduction to…

Native Spanish speakers from Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala, who are also English language learners, are a growing population of students in the K-12 classrooms throughout the United States. This particular group of students is oftentimes placed in Spanish-as-a-foreign-language classes that fail to meet their linguistic development…

According to Serafini (n.d.), reading aloud is the single most important activity to develop proficient readers. However, more and more children do not have access to books, are read to regularly, and do not have exposure to the written language. Ms. Wolfe is a teacher at Gwendolyn Woolley Elementary School, which is a Title I school with a 65%…

The topic development process for the Educational Testing Service's Test of Written English (TWE) is described, along with the work of the Core Reader group and the procedures for reading and scoring the TWE. The TWE scoring guide (revised 2/90) is appended. (Contains 20 references.) (Author/LB)

A study focused on the problems of poor performance in classroom assignments and state-wide writing assessments of middle grade students in the practicum setting. The goals of the practicum plan were: (1) to improve teacher competency in the steps of the writing process; (2) to improve student attitudes about writing; and (3) to improve writing…

Michael's Informal Test of Student Ability (MITOSA) is a diagnostic evaluative tool for adult students designed to test nine skills abilities in adult students functioning below a tenth grade level. The nine test sections are approximate reading level, understanding of basic math concepts and symbols, general thinking/reasoning ability, eye-hand…