Reports that inadequate air time and omission of detail are the most common objections by sources to science coverage on network news programs. (FL)

Describes a study designed to identify the mental operations that contribute to people's ability to answer wh- questions, that is, questions which request information that plays a particular role in relation to some action or event. Wh- questions are signaled by interrogative pronouns and adverbs like who, what, when, and where. (SED)

Examines the language maintenance patterns of nonofficial language groups in Canada, using national census data. Reports that those born outside Canada have a greater propensity to maintain their language than the native born population, and that members of ethnic groups with a longer residence in Canada (such as Northern Europeans) tend to…

Argues that the power of language and the possibility of the freshman English movement is the power of coming into language aware of its problems, but empowered, too, to claim its recreative capacity. (HOD)

Doublespeak is language designed to miscommunicate and mislead. Discussed are winners of the Doublespeak Award. Examples of doublespeak are provided, and books for teaching about this misuse of the language are listed. (RM)

Argues that judgments about scientific or technical facts are no more objective than any other judgments. Characterizes the objectivity of such judgments, exploring the consequences of that characterization for writing instruction, and concludes that objectivity is not particularly important in technical writing but is symptomatic of a deplorable…

Presents four essays disagreeing with Farrell's efforts to refute Arthur R. Jensen's genetic explanation of Blacks' lower scores on IQ tests. Presents Farrell's response to these essays. (HTH)

An experienced children's writer and teacher argues for the right balance of the richly strange and comfortably familiar in books for young children. (HOD)

Argues that the ideal classroom for language development would be (1) active and interactive, (2) collaborative, (3) functional and purposive, (4) exploratory, (5) reflective, (6) multimodal, (7) negotiated, (8) contextually supportive, (9) observed and tracked, (10) experienced based, (11) text aware, (12) conceptually demanding, (13) unbounded,…

Provides suggestions for helping student writers deal with predication. (FL)

Two essays explore scholarly opinions on the use of the generic pronoun "he" and discuss guidelines for avoiding its use in expository writing. (HTH)

Describes the methodology and results of a study to examine the feasibility of applying business communication and journalism guidelines on sex discrimination in evaluating in-house corporate newsletters. Suggests that a degree of editorial awareness of potential bias has been achieved, although a few areas of linguistic sexism remain. (HTH)

Decries the use of wordy, inflated prose by writers who should know better. (AEA)

Takes exception to some of the language used in the Bullock Report, especially in relation to some of the assumptions about helping parents talk to their children. (RB)

Evaluates an article published in Newsweek magazine called "Why Johnny Can't Write" and its appeal for a return to basic education. Attempts to show that the article is a prejudicial and misleading account of the problem. (Author/RK)