Responds to the article "From Understanding to Action: New Imperatives, New Criteria, New Methods for Interpretive Researchers" (Lincoln, Yvonna), focusing on what Lincoln calls "the leap from understanding to action." Draws from two books: "Excitable Speech, A Politics of the Performative" (Butler, Judith) and "Fields of Play" (Richardson,…

Discusses how watching and discussing feature films and writing reviews of these films in the English-as-a-Second/Foreign-Language classroom can be instrumental in teaching the principles of good argumentative writing within the confines of the simple movie review. Six steps for teaching a film review unit are provided. (Author/VWL)

Examines the paradigm debate over established (behavioral and cognitive) and alternative (constructivist) models of instructional design (ID). Discusses instructional strategies and principles, new terms versus new meaning, "straw man" and personalized arguments, expert-determined goals, research-based versus "brand-X" models,…

Describes the process for creating a mock trial based on the fable "Francine, Kerplunk, and the Golden Nugget." Explains that during the jury deliberations the jurors utilize chart structures to assess the credibility of the witness' testimony and the attorney's arguments. Maintains that chart structures can also be adapted to classroom…

Distinguishes between critical and creative thinking and discusses critical-thinking in relation to modern instructional programs and information literacy. Outlines goals in critical-thinking curriculum, critical thinking skills (student disposition, interpretation, analysis, evaluation, inference, presenting argument, and reflection), and…

Cites evidence that questions the conclusion in Skrla and others article that Texas test-based accountability system has improved educational equity and social justice for racial minority students. (PKP)

Skrla and others rejoinder to Klien and Haney wherein they agree in part and disagree in part with points raised in both commentary responses. Reiterate their support for potential of test-based accountability systems to improve educational equity and social justice for racial minority students. (PKP)

Outlines a series of recent studies that compare the impact of reading persuasive texts in traditional linear form to reading the same text in a computerized form, noting the implications of the computer medium for teachers. The paper concludes that persuasive texts do not seem to be more influential or guarantee better learning results in either…

Argues that awareness of epistemological and value-related questions is a prerequisite for critical thinking and interdisciplinarity in environmental higher education. Offers general discussions of epistemology and value awareness. Seeks to justify advocacy of both in environmental higher education. (CMK)

Responds to "Rethinking the Graduate Seminar." Addresses topics such as the many styles of teaching in graduate seminars, the role of the instructor, the graduate seminar as part of professional socialization, and socialization for the teacher. Provides suggestions on the article's ideas for dealing with discussion. (CMK)

Continues the discussion on graduate seminars begun in the authors' article "Rethinking the Graduate Seminar." States that the goal of the article was to encourage dialogue about how to teach the graduate seminar effectively. Addresses the responses from the other articles in this issue of "Teaching Sociology." (CMK)

Introduces a collection of short papers that focus on the body, visual culture, and semiotic awareness. States that the papers ask how do we know what we know, through what filters do we understand, and what codes are used to make sense of the world? (CMK)

States that teachers must "face" themselves in order to encourage experimentation with practices that evoke embodied experiences. Discusses "facing yourself," the process of knowing who you are, who you are not, and allowing for the self-transformation that should follow. (CMK)

Reports several years of instructional design work organized by an interest in the identification of students' preinstructional beliefs and the use of argumentative discussion as instructional interventions in an introductory communication research methods course. Concludes that students' preinstructional beliefs interfere with learning of…

Students at all educational levels are daily bombarded by others' attempts to influence them. Influence in the political, religious, social, educational, and advertising arenas pervade people's lives. It is vital to everyone to be aware of influence attempts; to be able to assess whether or not such attempts are useful, friendly, urgent, and in…