Offers alternatives to conventional modes of instruction by making practical applications of collaborative learning theory. Describes strategies to de-center the classroom by journaling, workshopping, and linking reading with writing. Suggests that with this approach students exhibit less writing apprehension, increased fluency, as well as changed…

Discusses short extracts from essays written by first-year undergraduates following an English-as-a-Second-Language medium humanities curriculum at the University of Hong Kong. Some of the wording reflected unintended knowledge claims. Feedback sessions on students' essays looked into ways in which a writer's factual or evaluative claims might be…

This study compared a variety of outcome measures for eighth-grade students with special needs integrated into regular social studies classes. Students with special needs performed similarly to regular education peers on multiple-choice facts tests, multiple-choice problem-solving tests, and short problem-solving essays, but performed…

A Many-Faceted Rasch Model (FACETS) for measurement of writing ability is described, and its use in solving measurement problems in large-scale assessment is illustrated with a random sample of 1,000 students from Georgia's Eighth Grade Writing Test. It is a promising approach to assessment through written compositions. (SLD)

Research shows that misconceptions about human blood circulation and gas exchange persist across grade levels. The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to investigate the prevalence and persistence of blood circulation misconceptions among prospective elementary teachers; and (2) to evaluate the effectiveness of learning activities for…

This paper proposes a set of new methods for intercultural rhetoric research that is context-sensitive and, in many instances, goes beyond mere text analysis. It considers changes in the field as intercultural rhetoric has moved from the EAP study of student essays to the study of writing in many disciplines and genres. New developments in text,…

Argument, debate, discussion, disagreement--most teachers would agree that these skills fall well within their students' repertoire. Students are frequently energized and excited by arguments and will voluntarily elaborate on and defend their ideas. Yet put these same students to the task of writing a persuasive essay and much of that eloquence is…

A within-subject pretest-posttest comparison design was used to explore the effectiveness of a planning and writing intervention in improving the argumentative writing performance of five fourth-grade students with learning disabilities. Students were taught to collaboratively plan and revise their essays and independently write their essays using…

A number of studies have examined the process and product of writing instruction under different conditions. Fewer studies have investigated the development of knowledge and its relationship to writing performance. While some writers may be able to draw upon knowledge of text in their writing, others do not possess this knowledge and yet others…

In this study, we investigated a variety of Reader effects that may influence the validity of ratings assigned to AP® English Literature and Composition essays. Specifically, we investigated whether Readers exhibit changes in their levels of severity and accuracy, and their use of individual scale categories over time. We refer to changes in these…

This proof-of-concept investigation describes a computer-based approach for deriving the knowledge structure of individuals and of groups from their written essays, and considers the convergent criterion-related validity of the computer-based scores relative to human rater essay scores and multiple-choice test scores. After completing a…

This book presents eight essays by Vine Deloria, Jr., a Standing Rock Sioux and professor of political science at the University of Colorado. Essays examine issues facing Native American students as they progress through the educational system, and aim to help Indian students place Western knowledge into the context of tribal and community…

The College-Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) is mandated as part of Florida's system of educational accountability. The CLAST is an achievement test that measures students' attainment of the college-level communication and mathematics skills that have been identified by the faculties of community colleges and state universities. Four subtests…

The College-Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST), mandated as part of Florida's system of educational accountability, is an achievement test that measures students' attainment of the college-level communication and mathematics skills that have been identified by the faculties of community colleges and state universities. The essay subtest examines…

This practical book integrates coverage of the writing process and various types of academic and professional documents with explanations and examples of using computers to enhance the process and produce effective documents. The book's four parts move from the individual writer who is using a computer to create a document to exchanges of data and…