Writing strategies encourage beginning writers to collect, explore, and focus ideas. This paper presents a rationale for fusing the word processor with the writing process and offers a series of pre-writing strategies, such as brainstorming, clustering and chunk writing, to help learning-disabled writers begin writing. (Author/PB)

Examines several aspects of word processing and desktop publishing, focusing on hardware and software selection. (MM)

Describes a one-semester academic composition course in the English curriculum of Amarillo Independent Schools, Texas. Discusses the advantages of incorporating computer technology into the course. (MM)

Describes three writing activities designed to link literature, technology, and the visual and performing arts. (MM)

Examines the effects of word processing on writing quality and the amount of text produced by basic writers. Finds that students using computers wrote more, but that there was no difference in quality between those who used a word processor and those who did not. (MS)

Surveyed 107 academics from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, in 1991 concerning their writing strategies and tools. Results found that 77% used word processors and that 53% used the 3-stage approach to writing that emphasized planning, writing, and revising. (Contains 10 references.) (MDM)

Surveys 28 expert technical editors regarding their views on editing and how computer-based tools could aid their work. Finds that the editing environment, the process of editing, the skills involved, and the errors found all influenced the types of tools need. Names tools the editors used and suggests others that should be developed. (SR)

Provides ways to use the standard functions of word processors to help students effectively edit on-screen "soft copy" as well as ways to counter the illusion of perfection caused by drafts printed on high-resolution laser printers with proportional fonts. (RS)

Pupils with special educational needs are finding that the use of word processors can give them a new confidence and pride in their own abilities. This article describes the use of such devices as the "mouse," on-screen word lists, spell checkers, and overlay keyboards. (JDD)

Investigates whether more frequent revising throughout composing interferes with the constructive processes of composition of eighth graders. Finds that the effects of word processors interact with individual student differences. Suggests that researchers and writing teachers need to consider these potential differences when prescribing word…

Describes the writing lab of the Glenbrook, Illinois, School District. Discusses the transition time between the old and new teaching systems, and offers ways to optimize this time. (PRA)

It is proposed that teachers can exploit the calculator function of a standard microcomputer word processor to create an electronic gradebook. A method is described for computing overall evaluations from component grades of different types and weights on a word processor to instantly calculate the composite for each student at desired intervals.…

Discusses the impact of word processing on the teaching of college composition at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. Describes seven design principles developed by writing teachers at the university in outlining a solution to the problem of how students can really work together collaboratively over a computer network. (RS)

A method for downloading Lexis documents to the WordPerfect program and removing extraneous codes and characters is described. Use of a specific utility program is recommended, and a specific sequence of procedures and hints for streamlining the process are offered. (MSE)

Addresses the question of whether text editing programs are successful in taking over the traditional functions of an editor. Compares the editing suggestions made by two of the most popular text editing programs ("RightWriter" and "Punctuation + Style") with those of an experienced editor. Finds that text editing programs are…