Although first enunciated in 1827 by Samuel Newman, the modes of discourse--narration, description, exposition, and argument--were not very popular until formulated in 1866 and presented in the United States in a rhetoric textbook in 1885. After 1890, they were gradually accepted by the most influential rhetoricians of the day, and their use in…

This overview of current trends in radio program design presents program characteristics which should be considered in the design and production of educational radio programs. A variety of descriptive terms are presented and defined as program variables which can be manipulated to create a desired effect. For each term presented a diagnostic…

One hundred fifty children in first, second, and third grade participated in a study of the relationships between written language variables in narrative and expository writing and reading comprehension. The seven written language variables investigated included mean length of T-unit and the ratios of various sentence-combining transformations to…

Drawing its materials from any genre, a Readers Theater differs from the usual theatrical presentation in that its action takes place in the reader's mind and is then projected to the audience. The one requirement for "production" is the reader or a group of readers--a stage is unnecessary. On a simple level, it emphasizes placement of readers,…

Research on literary response has had little to say about student response to authors' techniques in particular literary works. For this study, 165 senior high students of superior verbal ability were asked to read two short stories and to indicate what they thought made each story effective by selecting from an inventory comments which matched…

Previous studies of elocution and expression in America established the cultural significance of oral reading activities in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. There is an abundance of information available from private oral expression schools established by four prominent Dallas teachers: Mrs. A. A. Cocke, Mrs. Pearl Wallace Chappell,…

Examples of dialogues are examined to determine whether they are useful in teaching English as a second language. The use of dialogues is considered to be a satisfactory method only if it is combined with use of narrative texts. A class lesson emphasizing dialogue and narrative text is described. (IFS/MS)

Describes how the four traditional kinds of writing (description, narration, exposition, and argumentation) are used in advertising and suggests ways that advertising and the four modes may be used to teach composition. (DD)

High quality children's literature should be used to facilitate language-learning-disabled children's narrative abilities in the areas of structure, content, values, and aesthetic appreciation. Using the macrostructure of the story can lead to the exploration of feelings and values in real or imagined situations. (DB)

Based on intuitive speculation, a literature review, and trial situations with students, this comprehensive listing describes, explains, and classifies the functions that visuals might perform when used to support verbal narration. This summary will be followed in the future by establishment and testing of the functions' validity. (MBR)

Saint-Exupery's story, "The Little Prince," is analyzed from the point of view of the structures through which the author wishes to inspire and instruct the reader. The use of disguised didactic discourse and the manipulation of words toward this end are examined. (MSE)

Describes a study of the recall of narrative prose. Serial structure at first influenced which elements were remembered, but as the Ss remembered more, the story grammar structure became the dominant influence over the elements remembered. (Author/RM)

A story told about soliciting comments and criticisms from students during a class one day reveals a number of disturbing techniques used in academic story-telling. Such story telling, which has become increasingly common in academic teaching/writing journals of late, creates the deceptive impression of sincerity and intimacy. In this case, the…

Grade-school children's selective listening preferences for natural and altered narratives were investigated. (Author)