A social literacies perspective is used to analyze a rap written by a high school student. The article begins with an examination of the student's uses of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and standard English. The student writing sample and the researcher's analysis are subjected to review by two other African American teenagers, and…

A comprehensive review was conducted of writing research literature and writing test program activities in a number of testing programs. The review was limited to writing assessments used for admission in higher education. Programs reviewed included ACT, Inc.'s ACT™ program, the California State Universities and Colleges (CSUC) testing program,…

Outlines recommendations for classroom teaching of English as a second language and the national language, Malay. It is noted that these recommendations are unlikely to be widely implemented as long as such external factors as a highly structured syllabus and an emphasis on written work remain in place. Khalid's response addresses the issue of…

This study explored six dimensions of classroom environment in high school writing classes that used different instructional strategies (communicative instruction within a technological environment and traditional instruction). Surveys of student perceptions indicated that each dimension contributed unique information regarding differences, or…

An inquiry-based curriculum can become the vehicle for bringing students out into the community and bringing the larger world to the classroom. The article describes one Hawaiian teacher's elementary curriculum that encouraged talking, sharing, and collaboration and incorporated reading and writing for real purposes into the curriculum. (SM)

In 1999, the City University of New York (CUNY) abolished remedial programs in its four-year colleges and began to rely on standardized test scores as criteria both for exiting remediation and for admission to bachelor's programs. By doing that, the university has in effect eradicated its three-decade-old "open admissions" policy, argue…

The use of activity theory is considered in the evaluation of a web based academic writing course in a New Zealand university. Activity theory is an aspect of sociocultural theory and provides a model for the understanding of goal directed social activity. Like other recent developments in applied linguistics, research and evaluation in second…

Getting papers published in the (largely English-language) international literature is important for individual researchers, their institutions, and the academic community, and the resulting pressure is being felt increasingly in China as a result of top-down policy initiatives. For many researchers, reaching this goal involves two intersecting…

Only one out of five high school teachers believes that students are learning to write well according to research from Public Agenda. Test results confirm their opinion. In 1998, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) administered a writing assessment to gauge fourth- and eighth-grade students' proficiency in writing narrative,…

Now for the first time ever, the bestselling, teacher-trusted "Quick-Guides to Inclusion" are available in a single updated and revised volume -- complete with seven all-new Quick-Guides. A resource for busy K-12 teachers who need fast, friendly, and practical guidance on including students with disabilities in general education classrooms, this…

Based on the questions of second language teachers concerning classroom practice, generated by survey, research on aspects of second language teaching and learning was reviewed and is summarized here. In each case, a question or questions are posed and a brief discussion follows, in layman's language and based on relevant research, with a brief…

This guide, designed for regular classroom teachers in whose mainstream classes language-minority children are enrolled, offers background information and suggestions for helping these students become proficient in English reading and writing and for involving them as resources for global and cultural awareness in majority-language classmates. The…

Cost-effective classroom teaching strategies are provided for teachers working with students with learning disabilities and attention deficit disorders in inclusive settings from late elementary through early high school levels. Section 1 discusses the importance of learning strategies and includes an overview of strategic learning in the…

Observation of 16 university students of writing in English as a Second Language in Taiwan focused on the nature of interactions during three peer response sessions and one consensus exercise. It examined the kinds of comments made by a writing group in responding to peer writing and the characteristics of the verbal interaction in a consensus…

This book for graduate teaching assistants (TAs) presents 15 essays regarding the place of teaching in the lives of those teaching at the university level, and the responsibilities of teachers at all points in their careers. The book offers practical classroom strategies as well as selections from current research on teaching and learning. The 15…