Discusses an exercise that uses science fiction to generate the interest needed to help inexperienced writers overcome their fear of research and build their research skills. (JL)

Information about dance history, different types of dances, and dancing in other countries is presented. Ideas are offered for helping children experience all aspects of dance, from scoring to performing. In addition, Alexander Godunov of the American Ballet Theater answers questions of fifth and sixth graders. (PP)

Describes a unit in which gothic novels are first read and then used by students as models for the writing of an entire "gothic" novel of their own. (JL)

Outlines a writing-across-the-curriculum program for high schools. Discusses the role of content area teachers in such a program. (FL)

Describes a five-step creative writing program designed to improve student language skills. (JL)

Argues that the conventional method of teaching the generic research paper as a separately designated activity is ineffective and misleads students as to the nature of genuine research. (JL)

Creative inductive exercises for teaching effective writing skills are presented. Basic objectives of the inductive method include: (1) challenging students with creative options; (2) discovering the basics in sentence construction; (3) interpreting the idea of the "levels of generality;" and (4) focusing on the parallel between sentence…

The author explains her practice of requiring each of her students to write her a weekly letter, which she answers. These private correspondences help her to understand the individuals in her class and give the students practice in letter writing. (SJL)

Notes how the use of controlled composition techniques in English-as-a-second-language classes can be adapted to help basic writers in remedial writing classes. (RL)

A basic premise of the writing for real approach is that, to teach students to write, one must reverse the traditional literature-writing sequence, by which writing experiences are derived from reading selections. It is crucial to allow students to first write about their own experiences and environment. (Author/SJL)

Describes a three-step communications loop involving student self-descriptions that promote greater audience awareness. (RL)

Recounts a teacher's involvement with students in the spontaneous process of learning to write. Presents the benefits of such an approach as preferable to conventional structured methods of writing instruction. (HTH)

Free writing--writing without concern about spelling, grammar, and punctuation--provides students with opportunities to practice without being judged. Some free writing activities are described that allow teachers of subjects other than English to improve their students' writing skills without sacrificing time for their own subject. (JMD)

Presents suggestions and activities for teaching the imperfect and the "passe compose" in French second year classes. (AM)

Offers exercises for teaching basic writing students how to use derivational suffixes. (RL)