Suggests general changes in the standard reading and writing curricula and examines the language of writing instruction, in college level individual writing conferences, to take a closer look at issues involved in implementing the curricula for higher and lower achieving students. (FL)

Reports on three studies that investigated the knowledge gained by students, ranging from grade 3 to graduate school level, from exposure to single examples of literary types. Concludes that students of all ages showed evidence of some pick up of rhetorical knowledge, although of limited complexity. Contains materials used in the study. (FL)