Reflecting the opinions of both classical theorists and recent authors, 16 papers on rhetorical theory are collected in this publication. Selections in Part 1, concerned with the definition and objectives of rhetoric, are by Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Kenneth Burke, Donald C. Bryant, and Martin Steinmann, Jr. In Part 2, selections from the pedagogy…

The Quinmester course "Expository Writing" is designed to help students develop competence in writing topic sentences and expository paragraphs incorporating the methods of cause and effect, comparison and contrast, illustration or example. The process of composition is taught in the following sequence: identification of the audience;…

Conventional paragraph structure requires that the topic sentence be presented first, followed by connected, coherent sentences. The processing role of these rules was investigated by comparing performance on reading simple passages that conformed to or violated conventional paragraph organization. (Author/SW)

One teaching approach for basic writing students is to have them transcribe their inner speech--of matching their oral language to written language. (HOD)

Tests the hypothesis that second language (L2) students' approach to text reflects a top-down processing strategy in contrast to first language (L1) students' approach that is more text-driven. Results confirmed L2 subjects studied the texts less efficiently than L1 subjects. (HOD)

Explains how teachers can involve junior high school students in active language arts bulletin board production. (HOD)

Presents a strategy for teaching paragraph cohesion based on the "given-new contract" theory of information transfer that explains why and how to construct unified and cohesive paragraphs. (PD)

An activity for developing English reading skills that has proved motivating for various student groups is described. The technique, which involves reconstruction of jumbled passages, is suggested for teaching English for Special Purposes. Sample materials are included. (MSE)

Reviews the objectives of composition within the total English as a second language curriculum. The limitations of popular instructional methods are discussed and the introduction of controlled paragraph rhetoric is suggested. (CFM)

Descriptive grammars based on sets of rewrite rules were constructed to summarize the structure and organization of 120 entries in a second grade student's journal of class news. These rules illuminated the relationship between experience, abstraction, and generation of structure, and the use of structure to express complex thoughts. (PMJ)

A study examined whether writing instruction focusing on organizational patterns has a significant effect on reading comprehension. Writing samples were obtained from 18 second graders, nine of whom received no instruction, while the other nine received instruction on the purpose and use of the topic sentence, adding details to the topic, and…

Superordinates in Halliday and Hasan's analysis of cohesion are lexical items which refer to preceding terms, ideas, or actions, or to whole stretches of discourse, by naming a more inclusive category or class within which the antecedent is included. In written texts the interrelationships between superordinates and more specific terms, or…

This paper describes a classroom game designed to help students overcome their fear of writing. Two classes of top- and middle-ability adolescents were divided into pairs to work on a single composition. After the teacher proposed the initial sentence, the partners took turns writing sentences to complete the story. Although the collaborative…

In contrast to many books that outline in a general way the "best" method for teaching composition and that suggest a few exercises to implement it, this guidebook on expository writing attempts to be comprehensive and emphasizes practicality. Chapters deal with how to organize a composition program, how to mark student papers, and how to teach…