Intended for writing instructors at all educational levels, the chapters in this collection discuss the philosophy and principles of the teaching of writing in an effort to capitalize on the current public interest in writing. Chapter topics are (1) the basics of teaching writing; (2) teaching the composing process; (3) writing assignments and…

A journal-based college composition program has been developed that links journal writing to the development of competence in more formal writing. Students write both free choice and assigned entries, and their entries become the basis of all the themes they write; in-class assignments focus on the improvement of specific aspects of the journal…

This paper describes writing as an exploration through unknown terrain by which student writers find out what they are really thinking. It offers teachers the following ground rules to help the difficult process whenever their students are writing in any subject: (1) do not ask students to regurgitate what they already know; (2) give students time…

This is one in a series of eight discussion pamphlets produced by the Writing Across the Curriculum Project dealing with some of the issues connected with writing in the schools and their relation to learning. This pamphlet contains five papers that are concerned with the ways in which writing changes under the influence of who it is for and what…

Five articles concerning plans for the teaching of composition are contained in this monography published as part of an Illinois Office of Education project to respond to the need for materials written for classroom teachers of language arts. Aline Wolff encourages teachers to write themselves and to write with their students as they go through…

Outlines ways to encourage students to think of writing as an act as simple as talking and gives practical suggestions for encouraging writing in the classroom. (SRT)

Examines the practice of assigning writing topics to students versus allowing them to choose their own topic, and suggests a way to strike a balance. (JC)

Proposes incorporating a wide variety of texts from a variety of academic disciplines into the freshman writing course. Offers two sample text-based, process-oriented writing assignments. (HTH)

Discussion of the use of microcomputers as word processors in basic writing classes highlights the improvements in students' writing skills. Changes in teachers' approaches to writing courses are discussed and results of a study of 24 students in a basic writing course using microcomputers at Montclair State College are presented. (Author/LRW)

Studies original and revised essays of 60 university freshmen to determine the effects of attention to audience on improving overall compostion quality. Finds audience attention effective as a revising strategy but more effective as a drafting strategy. (NH)

Strategies for teaching mildly handicapped students the processes of revising and editing their written compositions are described. Students read and revise each other's writing thus providing peer feedback that is crucial in a process-oriented writing program. A hierarchy of revisions is given to evaluate changes from first to last draft. (VW)

Advocates a collaborative relationship between student reporters and faculty editors, preserving editorial involvement during the writing process rather than after the story has been written. (HTH)

Argues that the process approach to writing should not be stressed too heavily in business communication courses because the process may (1) be a luxury; (2) be an illusion; and (3) vary so much between writers that urging a set series of steps might accomplish little and make inefficient use of class time. (JD)

Examines the theoretical background for a process-based pedagogy. Denotes a sample progression for a process-based course, including a description of the phases in the writing process and an application of this description to various assignments. Includes an extended example. (JD)

Offers a review of various veins of thought related to writing instruction such as traditional grammar and rhetoric, discourse processes and cognitive science, and discourse form and sociolinguistics. (SRT)