The problem of this study was to find criteria, and a model, for judging written expression at the elementary level which can produce concordance of teacher judgments and be a possible basis for prescriptive teaching. Such a model was developed by the Affton School District. This study attempts to determine its utility. Twenty-four essays were…

The authors evaluated the overall effectiveness of two contrasting approaches to teaching freshman composition. The first was a dialect-acceptance, student-centered approach; and the second was a language standardization, teacher-centered approach. The students were evaluated by pre- and post-testing in such cognitive areas as fluency,…

A review of research and literature in the teaching of writing suggests two divergent forces operating simultaneously. First, the conservative tradition perpetuates the national mania for correctness and reverence for standard English. Second, a wide range of theoretical approaches proliferates through professional journal articles and books. To…

This bibliography cites books and articles pertaining to the teaching of composition to students of English as a second language. Entries include publications from various countries, and most have been published since 1965. A select list of English and American textbooks for teaching composition is also included. (CLK)

In the area of the arts, the Mexican American has discovered a rich cultural heritage which gives him a strong sense of pride and a deep feeling of satisfaction. A new interest in the literature of Mexico and the Southwestern states of Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and California has started the Chicano people reading classic and modern…

This book is intended for teachers, prospective teachers, language arts supervisors, designers of curriculum, and others interested in the teaching of English in the elementary school. Subjects covered include reasons why literature should be part of a child's education, what it means to "teach" and "study" literature, the foundation necessary for…

This document discusses a study of 36 level 3 exercises tried out in a single, middle-income, suburban, second-grade classroom. The following outcomes were generated for the exercises: capitalize the first letter of a sentence, correctly end sentences with periods or question marks, capitalize proper nouns, correctly use commas in dates and…

The purpose of this paper is to present the rationale and procedures used to implement the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) system of scoring writing papers from the 1974 national assessment of writing. Identifying important writing skills and developing writing tasks, scoring guides, and scoring procedures are also discussed. A…

The basic structure of a writing laboratory at Purdue University, Indiana, is described in this paper. Physical facilities, record keeping plans, instructional approaches and materials, and evaluation methods are discussed. As a laboratory situation, the course was intended as a supplement to regular composition classes. Five graduate students and…

Five papers summarize the development of the Elementary Communication Skills Programs in reading, composition, spelling, and expressive language, as well as the training system designed to accompany each program. These programs are intended for use in kindergarten through grade 4. Product development, field tryouts, revisions, and results for the…

This study investigated the validity of the research methodology which sought to compare methods of instruction through the application of univariate statistical procedures, to contribute to the development of the theoretical position which contended that students of different abilities, needs, preferences, and attitudes should be differentially…

This paper describes a developmental writing course at Purdue University. The author argues that the basics of such a course as far as the student is concerned are motivation and a desire to learn writing, communication, careful diagnosis, organized plan for student mastery, provision for transferral, and reward. Helping students develop a desire…

This paper briefly examines the viability and potential of a non-remedial college freshman composition course designed for those Mexican-American students who are capable of entering and successfully completing the regular freshman English class. The rhetorical concepts and skills of composition normally taught in Freshman English can more easily…

This special issue of "The Leaflet" focuses on various aspects of composition. Included are articles on such topics as writing instruction as a process, not a product; technical writing in high school; using "junk" material to stimulate creative writing; discovering one's own voice in writing; teaching writing to high school students by instilling…

This study examined the interaction of selected student personality factors and teachers' comments upon students' abilities to improve in composition writing in one sequentially developed curriculum, comprised of a series of six lessons, each of which preceded an in-class composition. Subjects, 163 students in eight eleventh grade English classes…