In a beginning level creative writing class called "Narration and Description," two student-written stories were collectively peer edited during each session. The class was required to read the student texts before class, critique them, and, with the guidance of four assigned student facilitators, discuss the texts with the author and…

A multimedia pilot program at Laramie County Community College, Wyoming, used a series of instructional modules with testing units to allow freshman composition students to review their own particular areas of weakness, to test themselves, and to move on at their own pace. The program used the technologies available in the school's…

Promoting lifelong reading is one objective of East Georgia College's English courses--all of them, even composition--because learning is a lifelong pursuit and to read is to continue to learn. This 2-year college's students range in age from 16-66 with varied interests but similar cultural backgrounds. Most come from non-reading, economically…

A pilot project tested and evaluated teleconferencing as a medium for training engineering teaching assistants in technical writing. The teleconference, which linked 15 participants in the engineering departments and writing centers of the University of South Carolina and Ohio State University, also included a training session on the use of genre…

This British study evaluated the effectiveness of use of individual portable computers by seven students (from elementary through college age) having severe specific learning difficulties or dyslexia. The study also examined the impact of the machines on pupils' levels of independence and the practicalities of using the machines. This report…

This study: (1) examined assumptions made about development of second-language writing skills by the teaching profession, as reflected in the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency guidelines, and (2) investigated the relationship between those assumptions and actual skills development, as reflected in the work…

A comparison is provided between general education core requirements and basic skills and competencies at the community college level in Illinois. First, general education core requirements from the Illinois Community College Board and South Suburban College are outlined related to communication; mathematics; humanities and fine arts; social and…

Reflecting the belief that learning is best fostered by encouraging students to read, reflect, and write about serious issues, this book is designed to help students argue on behalf of their beliefs so that other people will take them seriously. The 85 readings gathered in the book (60 of which are new to the fourth edition) give students adequate…

This instructional guide provides step-by-step techniques for using biblical materials in adult literacy instruction. Although the book is written from a Christian perspective, the techniques can easily be adapted to any religious material. Chapters 1 and 2 describe adults who want to learn specifically to read the Bible and volunteers who want to…

A summative evaluation assessed the progress made by the Westport Middle School Communications/Writing Magnet program's third year of operation. Part of the Kansas City, Missouri, School District's Long-Range Magnet School Plan, the program consists of 11 theme strands (text, creative writing/composition, dramatic arts, public speaking,…

Recent writing theory, research, and pedagogy have aided in the development of several models for improving second language writing skills. Attention is focused more on writing as a process, the importance of practice in writing improvement, and the need to learn cognitive structures contributing to writing. Daily journal writing is one method of…

The central role of teachers' interpretive assessments in guiding the growth of young writers is explored. Theories of reader response and literary criticism have been used to design a framework that integrates what is read with what is written. The current context of writing assessment is explored, and some of the other authors' efforts to…

This publication, a Spanish translation of "Right at Home," is a family involvement program in the form of easy-to-read cartoon-style letters to be used at home by parents or other family members with their preschool or kindergarten-age children. The book is designed to be used independently by parents, or to be reproduced and distributed to…

A study was done at Western Michigan University of faculty and student perceptions of the effects of the baccalaureate-level writing requirements. The assessment was in two parts. First, a faculty survey requested information about: the development and evaluation of writing assignments, the relative importance of essential writing skills, typical…

An English teacher at Hokkaido International School, Japan, guided his students through the writing process of thinking up ideas for writing topics and developing and revising those ideas into competent works. The class was composed of seven non-native speakers (in grades nine through twelve) who tried to achieve fluency in English within the…