Discusses the results of a survey of freshmen composition instructors which focused on how well developmental instruction meshed with instruction in the composition core. Concludes that basic writing courses should give priority to the development of thought. Provides a sample teacher questionnaire. (MM)

Explores theoretical and administrative tensions arising when the freshman writing program is not directed by the same faculty who teach in the graduate program. Discusses the effects of these tensions on the writing program and those who teach in it. Explores ways to resolve such conflicts. (RS)

Presents annotations of 179 writing textbooks (new texts or new editions of previously published texts) having a 1993 copyright date. Includes developmental and ESL writing texts, first-year writing texts, advanced writing texts, special texts, and professional texts. (RS)

Compares the situations of freshman composition students and their graduate teaching assistants who study literature. Provides suggestions for teaching assistants regarding how they can orient themselves to their teaching tasks. (PRA)

Presents an Outcomes Statement that describes the common knowledge, skills, and attitudes sought by first-year composition programs in American postsecondary education. Determines if there was sufficient commonality among programs and courses for a common program to be defined. Attempts to articulate this program as a way of understanding what…

Examines the theoretical and pragmatic objections to first-year composition courses raised by recent abolitionists who are composition insiders. Assesses four frequently proposed alternative models of first-year composition. Discusses evaluating these alternatives from the perspective of a writing program administrator's dual roles of curriculum…

Discusses the philosophical bases (cognitive and rhetorical) and the various institutional manifestations (freshman composition courses, adjunct and upper division courses, faculty seminars, and writing consultants) of writing across the curriculum. Argues that, at its best, writing across the curriculum means a change in the entire educational…

Examines the restructuring of first-year composition at Iowa State University. Discusses the exodus of tenure-track faculty from first-year composition in the late 1970's and early 1980's; why upper administration is now mandating tenure-track faculty's return; why the department of English is cooperating; and potential risks in cooperating or not…

Proposes a model for writing program administrators to use to assess the effectiveness of composition programs. Argues the need to consider local conditions, evaluate the internal coherence of programs, and consider the external relevance of programs. Describes how using this model led the Writing Center at Northern Arizona University to make…

Offers four perspectives on dynamic changes in the architecture of power and leadership in one university's large Freshman English writing program as it implemented a more collaborative approach in its administration, reforming a top-down administrative structure into a more egalitarian one. (SR)

Offers perspectives of 3 members of a 10-member coordinating committee that has collaborated in the administration of their university's first year writing program for the past 10 years. Discusses how such partnerships come to be created in a hierarchical university environment, how power is acquired, and how collaboration works on a daily basis.…

Considers relations between the official pedagogy of the writing program that the author administers and his administrative practices, to come to terms with the hidden curriculum of his situation. Argues for a shift from thinking about administration as masterful organization and implementation to conceiving of it as relational and receptive, a…

Reviews the history of the professional training of college English teachers, focusing on graduate teaching assistants. Argues that writing instruction is finally improving because of the integration of composition theory into teacher training. (RS)

Analyzes scholarship on administrative leadership styles. Describes the writing program co-directorship model the author and a colleague developed at a Southern public university, and offers a critical analysis of both the possibilities and pitfalls of collaborative administration for untenured writing program administrators. Points out ways in…