There has been a great deal of groundbreaking research done on motivation during the last twenty-five years, and all of it points to the importance of intrinsic motivation. This research has very significant ramifications for teachers of English. In this essay, the author engages the issue of "aversion" that Linda Brodkey raises in her essay…

Examines the thesis that the junior college is an intricately ordered mechanism for structuring and concealing the mass failure of the academically non-gifted students. (RB)

Reviews the current research on developmental English instruction, concluding that more evaluation of college level remedial programs should occur. (RB)

Describes how to use pragmatic and logical arguments to change students' negative attitudes toward basic writing courses. (MM)

Describes tracing and kinesthetic techniques (often used with severely disabled readers) which may help extremely poor spellers in first-year writing classes. (SR)

Describes a number of techniques used in a developmental English class. Notes that listening to colleagues in other disciplines and using writing-to-learn strategies are two ways to make a classroom successful. Suggests that these techniques can help developmental students become active listeners and readers. (SR)

Argues that the principles used in teaching students a foreign language should be applied to the teaching of freshman English where many students need remedial help. (RB)

Suggests using field trips as part of a five-step method designed to improve the writing skills of junior college students needing remedial instruction. (RB)

Describes an introductory activity called educational oral history which was designed to improve communications between teachers and disadvantaged students in an integrated basic course in reading and writing. Concludes the project also raised students' pride and ability to comprehend and participate in the course. (SD)

Offers a technique to develop the student's ability to critically evaluate another's writing as well as his or her own. (HOD)

Suggests teaching remedial composition students to use visual clues--markings and locational indicators--to analyze sentences and eliminate recurring grammatical errors. (AEA)

Explores the use of film in the instruction of remedial writing. Suggests creating exemplification essays approaching but not producing a filmic screenplay by incorporating narrative and technical cinematic techniques (shooting script terms) and conventions of visualization to produce both a piece of "exposition" and an act of…

Offers suggestions on the content of workshops in developmental English for college faculty in all disciplines. (AEA)

Examines how a shift to an online writing course affected underprepared students. Finds the guided writing environment enhanced instruction and improved student retention and pass rates. (NH)

Considers how various strategies can be employed to design a student-centered conference environment that helps developmental students find a place in the academic community. Presents suggestions that are geared toward regular daily class sessions that make the instructor an important part of the writing process. Presents 25 strategies…