The 1,175 composition topics that appear in this special edition of the "Illinois English Bulletin" are suggested as possibilities for high school student writing assignments. After a brief statement about how secondary English teachers might use the topics in their classes, the topics are categorized by subject matter and types of composition.…

Explains how to use various periodicals to demonstrate to composition students that writing style is both accessible and controllable. (AEA)

Each of these ten creative writing assignments includes a model poem, a writing idea, and suggested discussions or activities related to the writing idea. The assignments can be used to stimulate either poetry or prose writing. (Author/AA)

To aid in the understanding of "cases" for writing (defined as highly focused situations in which students assume a role that demands writing to specific audiences and for utilitarian purposes), this paper begins by outlining the problem case faced by the author: to present a convincing argument for the use of the case approach to composition. It…

Describes a writing assignment that uses the song "America the Beautiful" to point the following six reasons why America is beautiful: skies, mountains, grain, Pilgrims, heroes, and dreams. (NKA)

A study compared two methods of teaching writing by varying the number of writing assignments. The group with less writing practice and more theory instruction was found to be equal in achievement to the group that received extra writing practice. (A suggested method of teaching business writing is presented.) (LRA)

Contends that the subtleties of good writing are best learned by imitating proper models. Notes that the trick to using imitation in writing instruction is knowing how to assign imitations and differentiate them carefully from plagiarism. Offers exercises as suggestions and student writing as illustrations. (RL)

An argument for using various letter writing assignments to help students develop their writing voices. (RL)

Controlled composition--a method closely related to sentence combining--can be beneficial for college students whose writing is characterized by frequent errors and lack of fluency. Controlled composition consists of copying short, competently written compositions exactly except for certain stipulated changes. The assignments, which progress in…

Presents a checklist for a good writing assignment, illustrating its value through the development of an assignment based on a short story by Jack London. (RL)

Describes research, practice, and resources for giving students writing activities in several rhetorical contexts and to various audiences. (RL)

Prepared as part of the evaluation of the Bay Area Writing Project (BAWP), this report offers descriptions of promising practices in composition instruction. It explains the selection criteria and classification scheme used and describes practices in the following four categories: (1) structuring of writing programs, (2) teaching the elements of…

A set of writing assignments and class activities designed to help students analyze their own writing processes, define their own strengths and weaknesses as writers, set their own goals, devise plans for achieving those goals, and evaluate their own progress is presented in this paper. The assignments are explained in detail, and suggestions for…

Maintains that in order to get quality engaging essays, students must be fully cognizant of what is expected of them. Discusses areas that need to be defined for students. Proposes four C's for designing assignments: clearness, completeness, conciseness, and candidness. (RW)