Developed by classroom teachers during the development phase of Minnesota's Graduation Standards, this performance package is made up of locally designed assignments that, taken together, show whether a student has learned and can apply the knowledge and skills related to writing in the English language for a variety of technical purposes,…

The number of technical writing courses and programs in institutions of higher education has increased over the years. However, during the academic year of 1980-81 a study concerning the subject in Kentucky's colleges and universities could not be found. A questionnaire was designed to determine how many of the 42 Kentucky colleges and…

Presents a rationale for the desirability and advantages of writing as a means for scholarly growth, service to the professional community, and learning from one's co-authors. Considers what, how, and when to write, interactions with the publisher, and the future of book-writing. (JM)

A method is proposed to tie good writing skills to science and engineering curriculum without actually teaching writing. It encourages students to explain in writing the reasoning behind solutions to technical and mathematical problems. This places emphasis on reasoning rather than intimidating symbols and rewards clarity and cohesion. (MSE)

Elements of the legal writing program are presented and discussed: goals, structure, assignments, instructional method, and program problems (credit hours, faculty-student relationship, grading by tutors, competition for library resources, low level of basic student skills). Available from Union University, 80 Scotland Ave., Albany, NY 12208;…

Educational and psychological functions of the supervisor of undergraduate dissertations are identified. Special problems of supervisors are discussed together with the difficulties commonly experienced by students. Ways problems may be minimized and the desirability of supervisors acting within an agreed set of departmental aims, objectives, and…

Describes the educational master planning process used in the Los Rios Community College District (California) to develop policy and administrative proposals. Illustrates problems in collecting and presenting data and techniques for constructing meaningful reports that are jargon-free, easily updated, and use clear, uncluttered graphs. (JG)

Working together, the author, an educator, and a police training officer used their professional expertise to develop a curriculum for a program in report writing. The team approach enabled the author to teach elements of narrative style while the training officer concentrated on the application of these elements to specific kinds of police…

An inservice teacher training program on individualized education programs was provided to two vocational coordinators and seven teachers of students with mental retardation. The program was found to be effective in teaching the participants how to write technically adequate objectives and in increasing statements of generalized performance. (CR)

Reflects on a study of the effectiveness of an inservice training program on individualized education programs that was provided to two vocational coordinators and seven teachers of students with mental retardation. Discusses the reasons the study focused on behavioral objectives and the importance of writing quality behavioral objectives. (CR)

Discusses a simulation used with computer science students studying English for specific purposes in a university technical writing class in Japan. Highlights include building a paper bridge as a project team; writing a technical proposal as a team; language learning goals; influence of a group's ability to work as a team; and student motivation.…

Assists writers in getting started, organizing material effectively, and producing high quality technical documents. Uses a nine-block information matrix to provide a system of checks to evaluate the paper. Indicates that each section of the matrix can be written separately and then combined into a coherent document. (Author/MVL)

Examines the effects on comprehension of instructing native English speakers in the organization of a scientific journal article written in French. Finds a significant main effect for instruction in text structure when the text was in canonical experimental report order and no significant difference when the text order was scrambled. (RS)

Presents the results of a survey of Purdue University students' knowledge of, use of, and attitudes toward computers as they enter the technical writing class. Contrasts the technical students with upper division humanities students and draws conclusions about documentation requirements and appropriate computer use goals for the students surveyed.…

Describes the ScI-Journal, an online publication designed to give secondary science students a chance to publish the work they have done in science classes so that other science students can read about it. The goal of this journal is to promote student enthusiasm for science and help students develop a greater understanding of the nature of…