Despite a lack of support for the teaching of writing as a process that requires much practice, administrators must support teachers in this proved method of teaching writing skills. (Author/JM)

Recent history of writing research introduces a treatise on the development of writing abilities in preschool age children. Topics include composing processes, an examination of research done on the function rather than the form of writing, and language variation among various ethnolinguistic groups. (JN)

College freshmen practicing rhetorically based sentence combining for a semester proved superior to conventionally trained students in both quality and syntactic maturity of writing. After 28 months, on a post test, intergroup differences were no longer statistically significant. (This study report includes a research review and experimental and…

A survey of writing research indicates positive directions for teaching composition: reflecting developmental patterns in curriculum guides; emphasizing prewriting and revising strategies; giving priority to problem solving and creative thinking skills, attending to rhetorical issues like purpose and audience, and conducting research in the…

Finds that California State University at Northridge Business Faculty perceive their students to have problems with basic writing skills as well as with sophisticated writing concepts and techniques and seem to agree on the content that should be included in a business communication course. Recommends guidelines for revising the business…

Examines the relationship between an elementary language arts teacher's beliefs about and her students' conceptions of good writing. Interviews 15 fourth graders and their teacher. Indicates that the teacher's beliefs about writing have considerable impact on the pupils' perceptions of writing. Calls for sustained efforts in this new area of…

Reports on a study of teacher-student writing conferences which finds that conferences have an effect on the revision process; and the divergent backgrounds students bring to instructional events (in terms of writing ability, writing experience, or native language) have a structuring effect that cannot be dismissed solely as teacher bias or…

Reviews research on revising as it relates to the case study of the revising processes of a basic writing student. Shares insights into the complexities of revising and suggests possibilities for more productive teacher response to student writing. (TB)

Surveys and critiques what has been written about style checkers and text-editing capabilities of the computer to assist in revising technical writing. Finds the literature inconclusive largely because it is anecdotal and methodologically flawed. Suggests a new research agenda and focus. (KEH)

Presents a 33-item annotated bibliography of articles and books in 6 areas essential for both novice instructors and those experienced in assigning collaborative writing: (1) research implications; (2) theoretical foundations; (3) cooperative learning; (4) small group dynamics; (5) pedagogical practices; and (6) textbooks. (RS)

Notes that recent research on peer response suggests that with training and practice, peer respondents learn to read, talk, and think about writing with greater maturity and sophistication. Argues that students have a great deal to learn from giving as well as receiving response. (RS)

Investigates the effects of highly structured versus less structured lessons on student narrative writing. Finds that the less structured lessons resulted in superior student writing and the highly structured lessons resulted in mechanical, fill-in-the-blank responses. (MG)

Reviews studies that deal with word processing and writing. Areas covered include surveys of research on the effects of word processing on writing instruction; students' attitudes toward writing; composing behavior; collaborative writing; revising; and reading and writing, emphasizing screen design. Implications for instruction are then suggested.…

Discusses a longitudinal case study of the literacy levels and styles of thinking of a group of males disabled in print acquisition. Finds that subjects rapidly perceived a whole gestalt, executed with an economy of language, and retained strengths in visuospatial, nonverbal processing, while losing verbal language abilities. (RS)

Describes research on children's writing and knowledge of the writing process conducted by a university professor, graduate student, and kindergarten teacher. Focuses on two aspects of the research: children's written responses to nursery rhymes; and their perceptions of the writing process as revealed through writing activities and interviews.…