Investigates the written syntax of 81 college-able individuals demonstrating a specific learning disability. Supports a control impairment hypothesis, predicting that sentence production errors will be of the same kind as found in the language of writers demonstrating no handicapping conditions. Investigates the correlation of specific cognitive…

Investigates the experiences of 17 "remedial" readers as they interpreted and performed texts through classroom theater. Discusses results of a study aimed at analyzing patterns of children's text interpretation. Details the students' evolving conception of themselves as actors and interpreters of texts. (HB)

Studies empirically the effects of individualizing form letters by computer on the recipient readers. Suggests that the individualizing of such letters improves compliance over conventional form letters. Offers advice to writers embarking on the development of such an individualized form letter system. (HB)

Considers the importance of having writing center tutors with specific knowledge of disciplines. Examines videotapes of tutors with students in specialized fields such as engineering and business. Concludes that the "ignorant" or generalist tutor sometimes has limitations as a writing tutor. (HB)

Analyzes the metaphorical nature of scientific research papers. Reviews 89 journal articles from the top 400 most-cited documents for the period 1945-88. Show how these articles demonstrate metaphorical constructions in a variety of forms. Provides numerous examples for each mode of metaphor. (HB)

Questions the role of argumentation in the college composition classroom. Studies the responses of a variety of students to three sample arguments that address the same topic. Shows that most students can correctly rank arguments, suggesting that students have a tacit knowledge of argument prior to instruction. (HB)

Investigates whether "high-impact" prose (written instructions) really has a high impact on reader behavior. Finds that subjects in the group who received high-impact instructions complied with those instructions at a significantly higher rate than the group which received instructions in the low-impact style. (SR)

Offers brief summaries of seven recent doctoral research studies that focus on word processing and writing. (SR)

Discusses the possible disjunct between what is good for large-scale assessment and what is good for teaching and learning. Represents one attempt to "marry" large-scale and classroom perspectives. Presents background and rationale for a new narrative rubric that was designed to support classroom instruction. Presents evidence for the…

Examines the impact on a deaf student (who was "intensely anxious" about writing) of five two-hour tutoring sessions conducted exclusively in English, in writing, and on a computer. Finds that his fluency expanded significantly, as did his conversation about writing. Notes that he became more deeply involved in critical awareness of text,…

Analyzes spontaneous written expression (sampled from 11 workshops) according to a structured model of Creative Poetry Therapy. Finds similarity in the poetic indicators and in the expression of psychological needs, despite profound differences in the composition of the groups (children, youth, adults). Argues that the healing process of poetry…

Studies variations in kindergarten children's early writing forms in Spanish and the relationship among different writing forms, phonological awareness and the demands of the writing tasks. Suggests that in the process of writing acquisition, children move back and forth across forms of writing. Notes interplay among different types and levels of…

Finds significant differences in level of writing apprehension among students in Freshman Composition based on grades in Freshman Composition but not based on a student's age or gender. Finds significantly greater writing apprehension among accounting majors than among non-accounting majors. (SR)

Argues that children's points of view shape knowledge in the classroom and are central to the development of children's writing and learning. Finds points of view by referring to examples of talk and writing; explains how cultural and personal factors come into play; and proposes that points of view become an explicit aspect of instruction,…

Investigates whether an increased use of techniques of visual design in technical communication improves instructional materials intended for novice writers. Finds that instructional materials incorporating basic visual design principles are more effective than those that are primarily verbal, and that less-capable writers benefit most from…