Examines the role of nontext social knowledge on elementary school children and college students' understanding of protagonist-antagonist stories, noting some developmental changes in the understanding of these stories based on knowledge of persuasion. (FL)

Investigated the utility of a hierarchical moral development model, derived from Piaget and Kohlberg, for analyzing moral attitudes expressed in the persuasive writing of 30 children, ages 7-13. Concluded that a cumulative stage theory of moral development is more appropriate than a discrete stage theory for analyzing children's writing.…

To describe interviewees' discourse and to contrast successful and unsuccessful communicative behaviors, investigated their communication. Behaviors from rhetorical theory were also searched for criteria of effectiveness. Successful candidates displayed more behaviors that identified them with employers, supported arguments, organized thoughts,…

Demonstrates how the teacher can use texts to confront learners with cultural representations. Four texts are used to represent a literary extract, a student essay, an advertising document, and a newspaper article. The article illustrates approaches that borrow from stylistics, linguistics, and discourse analysis. (21 references) (Author/CK)

A discourse technique, re-framing a dispute in terms favorable to the speaker, is discussed as it has implications for lawyering and legal education. Literature on this approach to argument is reviewed, addressing such issues as constructive and destructive forms and avoidance of confrontation; and several discourse models are outlined. The…

Combines sociological and discourse analytic viewpoints in order to explore how central aspects of academic cultures are produced and reproduced in texts. Focuses on the scientific knowledge claim and demonstrates how the expression of claims provides a link between the structure of disciplinary culture and the particular forms of language that…

Presents a step-by-step guide to the fund-raising telephone call, designed for volunteers in college and university phonathons. Includes asking for the donor, introducing oneself, giving the reason for the call, verifying prospect records, establishing rapport, dealing with both positive and negative responses, suggesting alternatives, summarizing…

To reach older, nontraditional students and alumni, alumni associations must offer a different type of programming Suggestions include ignoring class years of alumni, bringing current and former adult students together, emphasizing career connections, supporting networking, featuring a college speaker to satisfy lifelong learners' hunger for…

Provides a response to the April 2001 "Social Education" article, "A Critique of the NCSS Curriculum Standards," (Anna Ochoa-Becker). Focuses on the critiques offered by Ochoa-Becker that address the lack of time given to certain issues. (CMK)

Investigates how four bilingual writers from one culture attend to audience in persuasive writing in Malay and English, and the relationship between audience awareness, culture, and quality of their written products. Findings suggests individual differences between bilingual writer's use of audience strategies when composing were intertwined with…

Evidence about students' performance in writing persuasive/argumentative discourse is examined through a review of the literature. Results suggest that students write narrative or descriptive reports better than argumentative reports. Questions of the difficulty and development of teaching persuasive/argumentative writing are considered, and…

Examines the use of narrative form to construct myths of self in autobiographies of religious conversion. Identifies two strategies of form relevant to personal mythmaking in conversion narratives and illustrates their operation in Charles W. Colson's autobiography, "Born Again." Concludes that the rhetoric of form in conversion…

Discusses the post-presidential writings of Richard Nixon. Finds an overarching concern for the "will," which permitted Nixon to transform the standards of higher moral principle into the politics of expediency. Views Nixon's writings as a symptom of the ailing health of public morality in liberal society. (SR)

Examines the performances of Geraldine Ferraro and George Bush in the nationally televised vice-presidential debate in 1984 to determine differences in female and male patterns of communication concerning issues and decision-making. Suggests that rhetorical critics examine whether a masculine ethic has framed their analyses. (KEH)

Outlines a collaborative writing exercise designed to help students develop position statements for persuasive essays. Notes that this exercise helps students adopt the discursive style and language of the academic community, as well as develop reader-based arguments. (MM)