Argues that for public relations to achieve professional status it should (1) be a communication discipline; (2) avoid artificial distinctions between information and persuasion; (3) encompass a wide array of auxiliary disciplines; (4) advance core research and theory by isolating and empirically testing a limited number of functions; and (5)…

Instituting a technical writing course for the first time can be difficult. English department members are apt to approach the idea with reluctance and apprehension while those in other departments tend to think of it with idealized ignorance. A public relations effort is necessary; however, such an effort involves information, persuasion, and…

Reviews the debate over argumentation within the feminist community, pointing out the types of theoretical problems presented to teachers. Argues that problems can be turned into learning opportunities, enabling students to become active participants in academic debates while encouraging them to have greater ethical self-awareness in their…

Noting that technical writing is becoming an increasingly important element in the college curriculum, this journal issue presents eight articles that provide information for use by technical writing instructors. The first article surveys resources and strategies currently available, while the second article reflects upon some of the adjustments…

A study was done at the University of Colorado to determine the qualifications, priorities, behaviors, and authority base of effective curriculum directors in six Colorado school districts. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative research. The qualitative data were obtained by observing and interviewing the curriculum directors and by…

Curiculum deliberation involves weighing and examining the reasons for and against a curriculum and giving careful consideration and mature reflection to choices. It also often involves considered action by a group of persons. The predominant forms of discourse--persuasive, theoretical, and descriptive--used to codify curriculum deliberations are…

This collection of abstracts is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The 13 titles deal with the following topics: (1) maximum likelihood multivariate statistical analysis in human communication research; (2) sense, expression, and purpose in Alexander Campbell's natural philosophy of rhetoric; (3)…