By analyzing the aggregated results of independent studies for possible sex biases in "influenceability" experiments, two hypotheses were tested: (1) content of influence inductions is biased in the masculine direction, and (2) sex typing of content relates to the sex difference outcomes of the experiments, with more masculine content…

Found that college students are motivated to participate in debate to fulfill the following broad range of needs: educational, social, competitive, career preparation, miscellaneous, and financial. Results of this study suggest that educational motivations are clearly more important than competitive needs. (PD)

Course content of a course at the University of Malawi (Africa) in legal English covered client interviews, letter writing, evaluation of judgments, advocacy (oral work in court), and drafting legal documents. No precedent and very few instructional materials were found for such a course. (MSE)

Presents transcript, editorial analysis, and critiques of the final debate of the 35th National Debate Tournament between Dartmouth College and University of Pittsburgh. (PD)

Discusses a recent conceptualization of argumentativeness. Reports on an investigation of characteristics of argumentative students, which included variables such as birth order, family size, high school training, college grade point average, etc. Supports the assumption that argumentativeness is a desirable communication trait and considers…

Reports of classroom research on the effectiveness of sentence combining as a teaching technique. Notes the value of in-class research. (RL)

Examines two tournaments for "individual events," sponsored by national associations. Provides information to help students and coaches decide which tournament will best meet the needs of their forensics programs. ("Individual events" include public speaking--persuasive, expository, after-dinner--interpretation, rhetorical…

Discusses how the impact of various rhetorical moves in a trial is determined by the relationships they establish between evidence and underlying story structure. Demonstrates that the underlying rhetorical structure of a trial is a finely tuned communication system for the systematic organization and processing of large bodies of information.…

Criticizes empirical research on the use of evidence in argument for producing ambiguous and contradictory findings. Notes specifically the failure to provide precise conceptualizations and operationalizations for the evidence construct. Cites definitional problems and methodological considerations which contribute to the inadequacy of past…

In Iran and Egypt, preaching from the pulpit has existed as a distinct medium of public communication for centuries. Studying such traditional institutions could reveal a model of public communication which might be most effective in a developing society. (PD)

Surveys the structure of different types of short films. Analyzes the short film as a rhetorical entity and considers production techniques and patterns of distribution. (PD)

Investigates the impact of the first televised debate in the 1976 presidential campaign on the political attitudes of 195 college students. Concludes that viewing the debate had only a limited impact, which can be attributed to the general problems of attitude change and the specific content of the debates. (RL)

The principal aim of the recent NORC study was to "measure the effectiveness of value-oriented education, indeed the survival of a system dedicated to that kind of education, under the stress of immense pressure...". Examines that study in relation to the question of leadership in the Catholic Church. (Author/RK)

Takes a look at the state of education, as described in the Coleman report, and voices some personal concerns. (Editor/RK)

Where other articles are primarily concerned with the socializing function of education, here the author argues that education also allocates and legitimizes political and economic participation in society. Suggests that nonformal education, in contradistinction to schools, is not likely to be able to offer a legitimate mobility route to…