Contends the impact of a final examination on grades surpasses its role in shaping the learning experience. Suggests issuing final examination questions in the syllabus to provide a structure for the learning process and for organizing data. Includes guidelines for essay examination questions and describes an introductory comparative course in…

Discusses the idea of culturally specific norms of interaction and argues that, where there is a mismatch between students and staff expectations, the students are likely to be judged negatively. It is argued that staff need to become aware of their own cultural norms and then accommodate the interaction styles of the learners. (10 references) (JL)

A former student of French language and French literature recalls how the lack of required essay-writing at a British Redbrick university affected other aspects of learning, including the abilities to compose good answers to examination questions, study effectively for finals, and understand the discipline. (MSE)

A national study examined the essay performance of 17-year olds (n=288), relating their written composition and writing motivation scores to 9 previously studied educational and environmental influences on learning (e.g., age, motivation, mass media, peer groups, home). Results indicate that writing performance is much less predictable then…

College faculty are placing increasing importance on writing across the curriculum and the use of essay tests. Freshman seminar courses provide an ideal opportunity to teach students to take essay tests successfully. This article describes 10 ways faculty can help students improve their writing skills. (Author/MLW)

Comparison of the effects of error- versus message-oriented written feedback on second-language students' essays found that error corrections and rule reminders did not significantly improve students' written accuracy or enhance the ideational quality of their writing, whereas message-related comments promoted writing proficiency. (63 references)…

The effect that mode of administration, computer versus paper and pencil, had on the performance of 120 middle school students on multiple choice and written test questions was studied. Results show that, for students accustomed to writing on computers, responses written on the computer were more successful. Implications for testing are discussed.…

Adolescents view sexual orientation, especially homosexuality, as a very sensitive subject. Homosexuality is also a culturally sensitive topic; views on its appropriateness as a classroom subject vary widely from country to country. An English teacher at the International School of Brussels explains how he uses literature and essay writing to…

The effects of gender bias and number of errors as unintentional determinants of essay grades were studied with 22 undergraduate education majors grading four essays by sixth graders in stereotypically male or female handwriting. Essays believed to be written by boys were graded higher than those believed to be written by girls regardless of…

Describes an action research project designed to improve the examination performance of advanced-level history students who performed better at age 16 than at age 18. After a weakness in essay writing was found, a teaching strategy for improving essay writing was developed. The action plan drew on the ideas of phenomenography. Students taught in…

Reports on a survey of college freshmen concerning how their high school teachers prepared them or could have prepared them better for college writing expectations. Reviews results that suggest that those students who wrote the least scored the lowest in college placement exams. (TB)

Students from 38 colleges with high scores on an advanced placement examination essay and low scores on the multiple-choice portion were compared with students with the opposite pattern. The pattern was not related to college grades, but was related to other test performance. (SLD)

Focuses on how the Internet has been used in the social studies at North Hagerstown High School (Maryland). Relates what works in the digital classroom and describes examples of student essays to cross-disciplinary units published on the Web. Discusses how students' web sites are assessed and the down side to using the Internet. (CMK)

Purpose: Persuasive writing is a demanding task that requires the use of complex language to analyze, discuss, and resolve controversies in a way that is clear, convincing, and considerate of diverse points of view. This investigation examined selected aspects of later language development in the context of persuasive writing. The purpose of the…

The effects of a widely used expressive writing intervention on adolescents' somatic symptoms, distress, and positive psychological functioning were evaluated. Eighth-grade (n = 106) students were randomly assigned to write about either an emotional or a neutral topic for 3 consecutive days. Students completed measures of somatic symptoms, medical…