This book illustrates how and why knowledge of verbal behavior is important to an understanding of politics by analyzing and describing verbal behavior studies pertaining to politics. Chapters in the first part of the book discuss the various characteristics of verbal behavior: the importance of verbal behavior in politics, construction of…

Material in this volume has been organized in five sections: (1) a bibliography of studies related to variables of source credibility (110 empirical studies--listed, classified, and annotated--from 1930 through 1969); (2) abstracts of doctoral dissertations in speech communication, 1970 (in the fields of forensics, instructional development,…

A structured elicitation technique, convergent communication, was investigated as a means of constraining the range of linguistic data from children in K-3 without unduly constraining the naturalness of the conversation context. The convergent communication situation is a two-person problem-solving task which ensures that all communication is…

The performance objectives for communication skills outlined in this document were developed over a two-year period by teachers and specialists throughout Michigan. Objectives are listed for reading skills, speaking/listening skills, and writing skills at each of three levels--third, sixth, and ninth grades. Examples and comments are also provided…

This illustrated reader is the third in a series designed for the primary-level children of Tanacross. The series is produced by the Alaska Native Language Center. (CLK)

This illustrated reader is the first in a series designed for the primary-level children of Tanacross. The series is produced by the Alaska Native Language Center. (CLK)

Oral language development, the single most important factor in determining readiness for reading, may be enhanced through creative drama, especially role playing. Role playing is spontaneous play which traditionally has served many purposes, including promoting socialization. It can also be a unique method of recreating historical episodes in…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nature and frequency of speech in two classrooms of New York City kindergartners. Specifically, study of the 52 ethnically and socioeconomically varied youngsters attempted to discover whether: (1) more language was used in some activities than in others, (2) more mature speech was used in some…

Linguistic models, especially the derivational theory of complexity, partially explain human comprehension of isolated sentences but not connected discourse. Two versions of a message, one entirely active sentences, the other entirely passive were written to compare transformational complexity. Subjects heard the messages at normal (150 wpm) rates…

The essays included in this periodical focus on teaching elementary school children how to appreciate and how to write poetry. "Children, Poetry, and Memorization," by J.F.S. Smeall, outlines the historical basis, and perceptual limitations, of the use of print media alone in classroom instruction. Suggestions for encouraging children's recitation…

The more audiovisual expression becomes, the harder it is for the young to discover the virtues of reading and writing. Oral language alone is unable to sustain the kind of information that must be passed from generation to generation through transactional writing. From the student's point of view, the written language is essential to extended…

Poor delivery, artificial analysis, and unrealistic organization are all pointed to by critics of competitive tournament debate. The purpose of this study was to determine the relative ability of students with debate and nondebate training with regard to analysis, organization, and speaking skills. Ninety-four participants in the Bicentennial…

This booklet is designed to help people improve their vocabulary. Four principles of vocabulary development are outlined: language development and vocabulary development are closely related; language development is concept development; vocabulary development is an ongoing process; and vocabulary is the basis for most tests of I.Q. The author…

The primary purposes of this paper are to describe the basic tenure system in higher education, to identify the sources of dissatisfaction with this system, and to make some recommendations about an Association for Communication Administrators (ACA) position on the subject of tenure policy and procedures. Four basic elements of the tenure system…

Elementary and secondary teachers can nurture creativity in the classroom through the selection and development of curriculum content and through interpersonal dialogue between teacher and student. The celebration of the Bicentennial provides an opportunity for the incorporation of related resources such as films, recordings, readings, prose and…