Reports on a study into the use of three classroom communication techniques in an upper-level crop physiology course. Results indicated that three-fourths of all previous students wished their college coursework had offered more opportunities for public speaking. (TW)

Description of microcomputer-based simulations used to help teachers-in-training acquire basic teaching and classroom intervention skills highlights the Speech Synthesizing Simulation, which is designed to train speech language clinicians. Computer-generated verbal exchanges between a teacher and a class of computer-defined pupils during a…

Presents a study which investigated whether elementary school children could gain significantly in verbal reasoning about the definition of art. Reports that fifth and sixth grade students have the intellectual potential to improve their verbal reasoning if provided an adequate background in art education. (GEA)

Discusses five noun-related sentence level difficulties that first-year law students have in constructing feasible arguments for the courtroom. (MS)

Discusses the importance of being able to describe the subjective properties of music. States that educators must develop an aesthetic vocabulary to allow articulation of musical properties. Provides examples of descriptive vocabulary taken from representative music selections. (GEA)

Discusses the importance of the computer in the history of literacy and proposes that electronic technology will foster change in both the structure and symbolic character of writing. Writing as technology, the structure of electronic text, computer symbols, the spatial character of writing, and writing and speaking are considered. (EM)

Examines the influence on children's social development of variation in the quality of child care environments. Findings suggest that overall quality, caregiver-child verbal interactions, and director experience were each highly predictive of the children's social development in day care. (Author/RWB)

This study analyzes videotaped conversations between various family members of a child with cerebral palsy and medical professionals. The conversations are examined for information elaboration and condensation, information negotiation, as well as methodological benefits. The medical interviews elicited new information in various contexts and…

The article describes different types of teacher expectations and expectation effects, particularly on minority students. Evidence for the existence of expectation effects is reviewed. Descriptions of behaviors associated with teacher expectations are summarized and recommendations are made for enhancing the learning environment for all students.…

Discusses the extent to which certain key aspects of functioning in two-year-old children in 46 families, followed from mid-pregnancy to two years, are anticipated by pre-birth parent personality and marital characteristics, and how these characteristics interact with postbirth development. (Author/DR)

Investigates the relative influence of speech and pointing gesture information in the interpretation of referential acts among children averaging three and five years of age and adults. (HOD)

Proposes a two-phase evaluation of the plain language laws that are designed to ensure that consumers can understand and use the personal business contracts they sign so that the best model for plain language legislation can be identified. (DF)

The onset and development of preschoolers' awareness of sex role stereotypes, gender labeling, gender identity, and sex-typed toy preference were explored in 26-, 31-, and 36-month-old children. Family characteristics that affect early sex role development also were investigated. (Author/RH)

Analyzes professional and methodological problems facing Black scholars in the communications field. Calls for the development of new rhetorical tools that would be more applicable to the Black experience than existing, traditional methods. Considers ways of meeting both community and personal goals, and presents a Black communication impact…

The relationship of juvenile delinquency and father absence to family problem-solving communication was investigated using an observational method. In the results, delinquency was associated with lower rates of maternal problem solving, and father absence was associated with higher rates of maternal and adolescent problem solving. (KH)