Research-based recommendations for an effective writing instruction program for exceptional students include, among others, allocate a sufficient amount of instruction time; expose students to a broad range of writing tasks; integrate writing with other academic subjects; develop the processes of planning, sentence generation, and revising; and…

A survey of high school and higher education teachers' (N=208) attitudes regarding the use of computers for Spanish-composition instruction revealed that: the lack of foreign-character support remains the major frustration; most teachers used Apple or IBM computers; and there was mixed opinion regarding the real versus the expected benefits of…

Reviews study of 30 graduate students that investigated the possible contribution of pictures to the recall and retention of information presented in written prose. The two variables considered were the durability of picture effects, and the effect on recall of information that was not pictured. (LRW)

Reports on a study to determine if having students write about the work required in doing three types of exercises from elementary algebraic fractions would affect the students' error patterns on quizzes. The study involved six developmental studies in elementary algebra classes. (PK)

Outlines some classroom techniques and learning modes for helping children manage change. Activities should emphasize the exercise of choice and the possibility of alternative "right" answers. Creative lessons, class discussions, and writing activities help students make decisions and gain some control over their life directions. (MLH)

Designed to help high school students develop critical thinking and writing skills, the "Clipping Thesis" project requires students to find newspaper and journal articles on a given topic through printed indexes or online searching, read the articles, write brief and final summaries of their readings, and compile a bibliography. (EM)

Explores responses to fiction reading by students who record these responses in journals. (NKA)

The Developmental Writing Program process curriculum model was developed to teach writing to elementary students. It combines prewriting, drafting, editing/revising, and publishing/sharing. A staff development model has also been developed and includes three components: administrator and staff orientation, teacher training, and on-site program…

Describes four opportunities for stabilizing community college course offerings in literature: (1) including literature in composition programs; (2) restricting literature offerings to foundations courses; (3) placing literature courses away from the main campus; and (4) cooperating with secondary school English departments. (DMM)

Use of microcomputers to teach basic prose writing to university students was investigated. The CAI program presented information, responded to answers, and evaluated input. Subjects were 50 University of Victoria freshmen. Few significant differences occured between experimental and control groups. CAI can apparently be used effectively to…

Compares and analyzes the types and distributions of cohesive devices used in narrative texts by Dutch-speaking children aged 8-9 and 10-11. Findings indicate a developmental trend in the construction of more cohesive and compact narrative texts. (SED)

Describes a study of those areas that experience suggests are major sources of error for native English-speakers studying German. Students' writing samples of different proficiency levels were analysed to establish (1) changes in error rate per student over the three semesters and (2) degree of negative transfer for each group. (SED)

Demand for college composition courses has made it necessary to adopt departmental standards to ensure fairness to students and to faculty. This fairness doctrine promises that certain minimum requirements are being established and are being met. (MLW)

Two instances of teacher response, shaping, and evaluation of students' texts are analyzed. Although one text is oral, the other written, striking parallels in teacher-assigned task, text structure, and teacher-student interaction are noted. Explanations focus on schools as institutions and on the complex interpretive processes operating in urban,…

Describes the attempt to define and to understand composition studies. Discusses problems involving its becoming a discipline and describes current writing programs based on a survey of 52 universities. (EL)