Written for teachers who want introductions to conducting school assessments and to studying features of writing, this book is intended (1) to provide ways for teachers to analyze writing samples and the writing process for school or program assessment, and (2) to promote the development of teacher research among kindergarten through grade 12…

A study was conducted to examine writing development in first grade children. The writings from an entire classroom were collected. From these, six children's writings were chosen for cross-sectional analysis. Two children from this group were then selected for further in-depth case studies. Interviews, parent surveys, and observations were used…

In advocating written literacy through visual literacy, this paper presents an overview of supporting theory and evidence and demonstrates practical application through visual compositions. The research reported in the first section of the paper includes the general theoretical stance of writing-as-process educators, who believe that the…

The purpose of this booklet is to help teachers become familiar with current research-based spelling trends so that they can apply them in their classrooms. The first section of the booklet reviews current trends likely to influence spelling instruction, including practices related to the writing process, studying spelling from the learner's…

By identifying speculations concerning cognitive abilities and cognition's relation to culture, this paper outlines some of the work surrounding basic writers and speaking-writing relationships. Beginning with a discussion of the differences between speaking and writing popularized by Mina Shaughnessy, the paper goes on to examine studies that…

To train writers to write books for new literates in Zambia who need high interest-low reading level materials on practical matters, a workshop was organized. The training cycle occurred over a period of several years, beginning in 1980 with the planning phase and the Kabwe Community Development Training Course, the first training element in the…

This collection of abstracts is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The 29 titles deal with a vareity of topics, including the following: (1) the interrelationship of reading and writing in the composing process; (2) the relationship between composition teachers' ability to write and the writing…

Sixteen children in five different classrooms in the same, small, rural-suburban school in New Hampshire were observed for 2 years to document what primary children did when they wrote. Eight of the children were observed from age 6 through 7, and eight from 8 through 9. Three researchers were on-site in classrooms 4 days out of 5 for the 2-year…

This collection of abstracts is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The 23 titles provide information on a variety of topics, including the following: (1) voice and the fictional narrative; (2) the effects of oral response groups before and after rough drafts on writing achievement and apprehension;…

Designed specifically for adult students in continuing studies, the sequence of core courses described in this paper reflects an interdisciplinary approach to humanities instruction that places the writing process within the broader context of critical thinking and liberal arts core instruction. The paper describes two course levels: the one entry…

The technique of inviting children to discuss their writing and examining closely the nature of their comments can help to identify facets of the writing process upon which to base pedagogy. An analysis of the writing process of one sixth grade female student in an Edmonton, Canada, public school revealed the use of 38 communication units (labels…

After a brief discussion of the concepts underlying the design of a high school district's composition program that emphasizes teacher inservice preparation and writing as process rather than product, this paper develops a theory of learning language skills similar to that used in learning a second language. A distinction is drawn between language…

Concentrates on reviewing literature on the use of computers to assist the composing process and the teaching of composing in the writing center. Deals with the following categories of software: (1) general, (2) prewriting, (3) organizing, (4) drafting, (5) revising, and (6) proofreading/copy editing. (SKC)

Describes how the Writing Lab at Hazelwood West High School, in Missouri, was designed and initiated. Reveals that computers are used there: (1) in teaching whole classes, (2) with individual students, (3) to teach skills, and (4) for keeping records. (SKC)

Describes a plan for improving students' writing skills which was developed in a school for kindergarten through third grade students, and which incorporated parent participation and "publication" of student writing. (JC)