A high school teacher sought to interest her English class in literature by developing a curriculum that included popular movies. After eliciting students' reactions to the films, she helped them list the criteria for film quality. She investigated the reasons for their opinions to help them develop critical thinking skills. (SM)

A high school English teacher inquired into how small writing groups could best be used in the classroom to promote good writing. His students designed the inquiry, generating and selecting 12 questions for a final survey. Students asked cogent questions and gave provocative answers that greatly enhanced their writing. (SM)

The English compositions of two groups of Hong Kong secondary school students learning English as a Second Language were compared. Results found that students who used computer word processors, on the whole, wrote better compositions than students who used pen and paper. (46 references) (MDM)

Effects of heterogeneous peer response groups (heterogeneous for language proficiency and ability) on the writing of limited-English-proficient (LEP) students was investigated in fourth-grade language arts classes. After one month, significant improvements on two measures of fluency were found for LEP students assigned to peer response groups, but…

Reports on two studies to determine if teaching poor readers to use inner speech could improve their reading and writing skills. Finds that both experimental groups improved significantly in both reading and writing. Includes three tables containing comparative experimental data. (CFR)

Deaf and hearing children at two grade levels (fourth and eighth) provided written texts for an analysis of text structure and quality. Deaf writers used as many cohesive devices as hearing writers but used fewer different lexical terms per device. The deaf children's texts are discussed in terms of possible language transference. (66 references)…

Five countable indices of writing quality were examined for their suitability in making special education screening-eligibility decisions, based on writing samples from 2,160 students. Even the best index was only moderately efficient. "Percentage of words spelled correctly" was best overall, and "percentage of correct word sequences" was best for…

Varied linguistic and sociopragmatic skills required for effective international research reporting are discussed based on a survey of journal editors in North America and the United Kingdom. Emphasis is on language-related criteria that influence publication decisions, and suggestions are offered for teaching research writing. (17 references)…

Discusses the use of life stories as a strategy for validating student life experiences, developing tolerance for and appreciation of other cultures and improving student attitudes about themselves and their peers. Describes a literature-based, college-level course for inservice teachers in which life stories were the dominant theme. (CFR)

Writing strategies were incorporated into a pharmacy program communication skills course, and their effectiveness measured in comparison with a previous student group (n=20). Experimental subjects (n=28) showed significant improvement in writing, verbal skills, ability to formulate ideas, and identifying appropriate target audience, and had…

Current needs in English-as-a-mother-tongue teaching, especially in England and Wales, are surveyed. It is argued that the feeling of stagnation among students in many university English departments results at least partly from the failure to respond to new ideas about the teaching of English language and literature. (JL)

Summaries of seven language-related research projects are presented from Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Topics include a lexicon of Kelabit, cognitive theory for second-language acquisition, academic writing in Filipino, cultural politics of English instruction, use of conjunctions, and communicative grammar. (LB)

A case is made against the use of computer-assisted text analysis, including style analyzers and grammar checkers, with nonproficient second-language or basic-skills student writers. The inaccuracy of analysis, limited feedback, and type of revision behavior encouraged are cited. (33 references) (Author/LB)

Describes how elementary and secondary students use computers to create prequels to videos shown in their English classes. Discusses how the activity promotes critical thinking, predictive viewing, reading, and writing skills. (MG)

Presented is a guide for undergraduate mathematical composition with emphases on explicit and clear definitions, purposeful formatting with regard to technical conventions, and proper style with respect to content and prospective audience. Numerous examples are included, particularly those involving complicated mathematical expressions. (JJK)