Finds that both severity of violation and recipient of explanation affect the linguistic content of elementary school-aged girls' excuses. Concludes that older girls used fewer single apologies, incorporated more repair components, and tailored their explanations to the nature of each violation. (JAD)

Examines the rhetorical constructs of the "question-and-answer format" as it has been used widely both in popular, informative, advertising, and journalistic literature. Considers its classical origins, its intent and effect, and the ways in which it plays on the reader's resistance. (TB)

Explains the concepts of spectator positioning, supplement (as defined by Jacques Derrida), and plenitude in relation to the study of woman's films, in general, and the film "Committed" (1984), in particular. Considers how the film's indirect mode of public address disturbs conventional gender alignments and the distinction between…

States that Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam relied heavily upon debate as a form of public address through which to enact and publicize confrontation with other civil rights organizations. Examines Malcolm X's first experience and training in debate as a prison inmate and later public experiences. Provides detailed accounts and analysis of his…

Argues that technical writers must construct proper contexts for readers' understanding. Discusses reader-oriented syntax, rhetorical confidence, and three kinds of context qualifiers. Offers various examples. (SR)

Recounts when the Fluxus community first became self-consciously aware of itself during early European concert tours. Provides insights into criteria that delineate European and American Fluxus performances. Discusses use of chance procedure by members of the group, their debts to John Cage, and the relationship between the audience and the…

Campus public relations professionals offer advice for improving the effectiveness of public relations efforts by (1) setting behavioral goals; (2) targeting audiences carefully; (3) focusing appeals by making messages explicit; (4) connecting the public relations message with larger societal issues; and (5) reaching internal as well as external…

Presents four short interviews with some of the most respected names in children's literature: Jane Yolen, Kyoko Mori, Rita Williams-Garcia, and Joseph Bruchac. Discusses particular book subjects, how the writers came to be writers for children, new books, and characters described in the stories. (SC)

Suggests that narrative structure should be taught as a reminder that human life is interwoven with stories. Suggests educators teach students the power of narrative and its relationship to its audience and the context in which the story is told. Compares the OJ Simpson story with a famous Norwegian folktale to illustrate the role narrative plays…

Elaborates a model to analyze how contemporary journalism "creates" society--how it "modifies" a person's perspective of the world, enabling individuals to "share" crucial meanings about reality. Bases the model on the analysis of different narrative voices to capture some of the order of the contemporary discourse of…

Investigates the validity of the television industry's labeling of sensitive program content following the advent of the V-chip television ratings system. Examines programs for the nature and extent of portrayals of violence, sexual behavior and dialogue, and adult language. Suggests there are substantial limitations in the ability of the V-chip…

Clarifies the nature and definition of explanatory journalism. Distinguishes journalistic explanation from news analysis, interpretation, and investigation. Reveals, by using rhetorical analysis, that explanatory journalism within the journalistic profession is both praised and prized, evaded and reviled. Aims to set a clearer foundation for…

Previous research has suggested that the understanding of modesty--downplaying one's achievements to evoke a positive social evaluation--develops in the primary school years. However, very little is known about how children's understanding of modesty is associated with social contextual factors, such as audience type. A sample of 92 children aged…

Why are many teachers around the world moving toward task-based learning (TBL)? This shift is based on the strong belief that TBL facilitates second language acquisition and makes second language learning and teaching more principled and effective. Based on insights gained from using tasks as research tools, this volume shows how teachers can use…

In this article, I present a qualitative analysis of third graders' experiences with a unit from their district-mandated commercial reading curriculum in which the children made strong connections between a fictional account of a Depression-era farm family's economic hardships and their own 21st century lives in a city with one of the highest…