Describes a writing-intensive ecology course designed to foster the development of writing and critiquing skills early in the semester and immerse students in the peer-review process toward the end of the course. By critiquing other scientific papers, students gain insight into the effectiveness of their own writing while also increasing their…

The purpose of this article is to highlight and discuss the role of language as the link between experiences with number patterns and the emergence of algebraic notation. Discussed is a recommended approach. A sample of a written student response is provided. (CW)

The purpose of this article is to help teachers and students understand the various forms used for scientific papers and reports by presenting formats that are generally accepted by the scientific community. Highlighted are the areas of format and style. Seven references are listed. (CW)

Describes a college instructor's observations of her students' writing blocks. Suggests that female students' writing blocks differ from males'. Asserts that females' blocks last longer and cause greater distress than do males' writing blocks. Notes that female students also appear to experience difficulty in utilizing secondary sources and…

Discusses the use of writing assignment in mathematics class. Provides a peer-conference checklist and samples of students' works. Describes some of the experiences, types of assignments, and grading. Seven references are listed. (YP)

Describes the trend in community colleges toward vocational education and discusses the role of the library in this environment. It is argued that reducing library instruction to the retrieval of predigested information, although it may appear to enhance the library's relevance to open admissions students, undermines the purpose of the library.…

Offers suggestions for structuring the writing of paragraphs about data tables and conclusions. States that data tables usually contain: the central or most typical value and the variation or spread within the data. Provides steps for writing a paragraph and an evaluation of effectiveness. (RT)

Describes an ethnographic study conducted to determine if writing could assist student learning in a college data processing class. Indicates that although most students were able to write expository essays and had passed the City Writing Assessment Test, there was little transfer of skills to course content. (MAB)

Describes some ways in which community college faculty are using writing to teach the subject matter of vocational-technical courses. Provides a definition of thinking and suggestions for teaching and curriculum development, focusing on working collaboratively, devising writing assignments, integrating writing into the class period, and learning…

Discusses diagnostic information which can be gained from students' writing and presents examples of each, including error patterns, insights into where instruction should begin, failure of students to make connections, difficulties with independent work, clarifying student understanding, and student beliefs and attitudes. (42 references) (MKR)

Describes assignments in abstract writing as well-suited way to integrate writing into curriculum of large introductory geology courses. When students write abstracts on either assigned outside readings or special sections in their textbooks, they develop a concise writing style and polish their writing skills and also increase their understanding…

Authors describe a "writing intensive" physical geology course utilizing both formal and informal writing assignments. The formal assignment consists of a summary paper on four geological articles. A writing tutor provides feedback on drafts of the summaries. The informal writing assignment requires students to keep a journal related to laboratory…

Author describes her first-year seminar in history of geology where students are given writing assignments asking them to summarize, describe, explain, be convincing to reader. Students review their written work through frequent revision, peer review, collaborative writing assignments. Assignments require students to examine scientific principles…

Describes advantages and details of use of journal writing in introductory geology course. Entries include minimum of three one-page entries per week and count for 25 percent of course grade. Most students start with restatement of ideas presented in class; by end of the course, they are drawing original conclusions and applying ideas in new…

Describes a method of teaching geology and scientific writing to nonscience students that combines active integration of lecture, reading, and laboratory materials with field observations into a writing assignment on a real scientific problem. The writing assignment is completed in stages: a prospectus, a detailed report outline, a bibliography, a…