Describes the difficulties students have in learning to read textbooks togain information for content areas and notes ways in which the teacher should promote textbook readiness. Bibliography. (RW)

Lists and discusses a sequence of first-of-term writing assignments designed to stimulate students' thinking about the goals of an English course and to involve them in the planning of it. (RD)

The educational advantages and features of learning centers are presented. (Author/MF)

To examine the effect of learning contracts on independent study students, study contracts were offered to high school and university students. The contracts were found to be effective in stimulating students to complete initial assignments, but their effect on course completion rate was weak. (CJ)

Outlines an approach to teaching technical writing that combines the traditional lecture/discussion and the conference/tutorial methods and emphasizes a great deal of writing practice across various writing forms. (RL)

Solves the problem of student diversity in technical writing courses by proposing a thematic approach to course content, with appropriate materials arranged in a classroom library of case studies. (RL)

A reminiscence of Willard Hurst with reference to events occurring over more than a quarter-century is presented. Emphasis is on the training of graduate law students in legal historical research. (Journal available from: University of Wisconsin Law School, Madison, WI 53706, $4.00.) (MLW)

Undergraduate engineering students were required to write research papers and present them to the class, which would prepare appraisals and discuss the work. The original authors would then rework their papers. An analysis of this approach is presented and indicates that it is a useful educational strategy. (Author/JMD)

The author makes a case for replacing the traditional English term paper with short repeatable research assignments as a better way of developing students' reading comprehension and self-management skills in the writing process. He appends a sequential task outline for the stages of a research assignment. (SJL)

High school students were tested on their ability to follow directions written by content area teachers. Poor readers understood the directions only about half the time, which probably confounds their performance on classroom tests and assignments. Ways that teachers can make their instructions easier to read are suggested. (SJL)

Examines the effects of the preparation and presentation of a speech on the changing attitudes of the speaker. Concludes that individual attitudes are affected by the preparation stage more than the presentation stage. Draws implications for the teaching of public speaking. (JMF)

A rationale and procedure for promoting outside reading and assigning book reports. (RL)

Presents a checklist for a good writing assignment, illustrating its value through the development of an assignment based on a short story by Jack London. (RL)