Guidelines are provided for evaluating research on the process approach to the teaching of writing to exceptional children. Focus is on the roles of the teacher and the learner. Suggestions are presented for further research, specifically in the areas of fluency, the functions of writing, and the effects of instruction. (Author/JDD)

Noting that English teachers are often overwhelmed by the time they must spend grading papers, claims there is a need to rethink teaching philosophy and suggests specific methods for teaching writing and grading papers based on sound research-based theory. (NH)

Describes the behaviors and attitudes 49 high school junior English students demonstrated and the features that existed in their writing when they wrote for natural purposes (such as writing letters, biographies, and pamphlets). (EL)

Shows that, although peer editing groups are effective, they also have their limitations, and advocates instead the use of revision workshops as a practical alternative. Contains a checklist used in a revision workshop. (NKA)

Indicates that both novices and experts considered (1) definitions more important than facts, though novices applied this rule more strongly, and (2) information high in the passage hierarchy more important than lower level information. Finds that hierarchical level has a greater effect on the perceived importance of definition than facts. (JD)

There is an explosion of new research describing writing stages and how young children learn about reading by learning to write first. Teachers can develop environments in which students can freely explore writing in no-fail situations. By being guided by childrens' spontaneous learning efforts many inapropriate teaching techniques can be avoided.…

Explains how a year of observing two successful novelists write and revise on the computer provided a number of ideas that are encapsulated in the concept of a fluid text or the writer's conscious avoidance of a text that becomes static or fixed. (HOD)

Concludes that field-independent college writers produced discourse that was judged more coherent than the discourse produced by field-dependent writers. Concludes that cognitive style is a significant variable in explaining differences between good and poor writers. (FL)

Reviews literature on specific computer systems and automated text editing and publishing. Concludes that most such research is being carried out by teachers of composition rather than technical writing and that research by most technical writing teachers is applied research designed to solve problems posed by professionals in the field. (HTH)

Investigates the effects of question type (general or specific) and question position (prior to or following writing) upon measures of conceptual elaboration in writing. Results indicate that writers can benefit from questions following initial writing that enhance conceptual elaboration of base-level ideas during writing revision. (HOD)

Reports on a survey of business managers indicating (1) that managers consider skills in written and oral communication important to career success and employee job performance and (2) dissatisfaction with employees' ability to communicate effectively. Suggests aligning at least some writing assignments more closely with job-related writing tasks.…

Explores four drafts of a child's story about the disappearance of television, showing how the later draft suggests the writer's interest in questions about the nature of reality, and how the student grew as writer. (HTH)

Discusses the teaching of imaginative writing in the content area at the middle school level and indicates potential applications for such teaching at all levels. Contains extensive writing examples. (FL)

A study was conducted to determine whether there is a relationship between problem discovery and the assessed originality of the written product, and to determine whether problem-solving behavior is observable in student writers. Results indicated a relationship between problem finding and the originality of the product. (HOD)

Presents a study of the process and the product in the early writing attempts of two children. Examines some of the strategies they use during the intermediate or invented spelling stage. (HTH)