Describes a research paper project for high school students that requires them to incorporate source information into a conversational letter. Builds topic around an imaginary class reunion aboard an ocean liner. Notes that the students internalize the assignment, find a practical reason for using reference books, and actually enjoy the research.…

Describes a writing assignment in which students collected oral histories from Vietnam veterans in their community, edited the transcripts of their interviews, prepared manuscripts for a booklet of ten interviews, and composed cover letters for the final product. Notes positive effects of both the revision work and the primary research. (JG)

Examines how students make and revise meaning when writing in purposeful, informal ways about their interpretation of literary texts. Also reveals five ways in which students develop their understanding of literature through writing. Suggests a mutually enriching reading-writing process of interpretation. (AEW)

Presents and analyzes the qualifications English departments prefer when hiring faculty to teach business and technical writing. Indicates that most successful candidates are those who have completed degree programs combining the study of literature and composition. Also suggests that English departments should make their degree programs more…

Outlines a multistep writing program in which English as a second language students participate in the writing process and relate to their fellow writers (classmates and teachers) in various ways, using journals, learning logs, and essays. The extent to which activities increase writing proficiency and reduce students' writing apprehension is…

Based on a survey of 118 college students, presents student perceptions of how environment effects their writing. Notes frequent criticism of classroom as a debilitating alien environment and preference for writing at home because surroundings can be manipulated. Recommends student participation in setting up the classroom. (JG)

The summary writing skills of 30 hearing-impaired and 30 normally hearing college students were analyzed. Compared to controls, hearing-impaired students included opinions in their summaries more often, included important ideas less often, selected or created topic sentences less often, and integrated ideas within and among paragraphs less often.…

This study sought to determine the effects of an instructional pause procedure on the verb identification performance of eight 8th- and 9th-grade students with severe behavior disorders. Seven of the students showed improvements of 14 percent to 29 percent, and significant generalization to student-generated written work was also demonstrated.…

Elaborates on R. M. Gagne's distinction between lateral and vertical transfer for written composition. Claims that the theory of lateral and vertical transfer as applied to writing is compatible with (1) current conceptions of declarative and procedural cognitive processes and (2) a balanced pedagogy of both student-centered and direct,…

This study examined role models presented in primary-, fourth-, and seventh-grade basal readers and across basal series. Findings conclude that since children are influenced by models, basal authors should include role models who read and write frequently, with pleasure and variety. Teachers should provide live modeling or point out basal role…

Illustrates dimensions of variation in how young children orchestrate or manage the writing process, using data collected from a five-month study of primary grade writers. Finds children's composing behaviors consistent with their apparent intentions and with their styles as symbolizers and socializers in their classroom. (SKC)

Investigates the effects of two types of written comments on student compositions and learning of course content. Supports the idea that content comments seem to help students write better essays. Suggests that writing reflectively and thoughtfully about a topic increases learning of that topic. (JK)

An author traces the development of a survival story, "The Sign of the Beaver," and examines the elements basic to the genre in some other well-known stories. (SD)

Reviews a book that presents a method for teaching writing supported by theory, and that is illustrated with examples of students' and teachers' writings. The authors' methods are based on four propositions drawn from their command of modern discourse theory, philosophy, and linguistics. (NKA)

Looks at the experience of a "Foreign Expert," assigned to teach English composition and literature in China. Explores the "meanings" of reading and writing following a tradition of Chinese scholarship that holds to the belief that language is meaning. (JK)