Explores developmental students' attitudes toward writing as a reflection of their writing performance. Finds that the skills of students with positive attitudes toward writing improved significantly more than did those of students with neutral or negative attitudes. Includes a student writing attitude questionnaire and a questionnaire analysis…

Argues that, from a transformational-generative perspective, errors in writing mechanics (such as run-on sentences, comma splices, and errors in subject-verb agreement) persist because writing instructors do not exploit students' language ability. Describes how transformational grammar is useful in correcting errors in sentence mechanics. (MM)

Maintains that the challenge of writing vibrant yearbook copy means accepting the risk of self-exposure, doing extensive preliminary research, asking pointed questions during interviews, and double-checking quotes prior to publication. (SR)

Discusses the need for early intervention in the primary grades to avoid secondary school drop out, noting that most at risk-secondary students have major deficiencies in reading, writing, and listening, as well as low self-esteem. Reviews the effectiveness of the "Success in Reading and Writing Program" in meeting these needs. (NH)

Discusses alternatives to formal grammatical analysis to teach syntax and usage, including sentence combining, expansion, and modelling/imitation; transformation exercises; and inductive grammar. Considers ways of teaching editing/proofreading skills, including peer editing, teacher/student conferences, and selective marking of errors. Discusses…

Illustrated are how explorative assignments can help to expose and identify learning problems. Some assignments that address these problems and some techniques and benefits of using writing assignments are provided. (MNS)

Suggests several strategies for producing fluent, legible penmanship for both left and right handed students. Observes that reading readiness skills can be reinforced through handwriting instruction. Describes several physical considerations for successful writing, and notes the modifications needed for left handed writers. (MM)

This article briefly reviews problem-solving deficits in learning-disabled adolescents; describes decision stories; and explores how they can be used to make students more active, problem-solving learners. Three decision stories are presented to demonstrate their potential for helping students approach and/or solve academic and social problems.…

Two hearing-impaired students, aged 11 and 12, with differing American Sign Language and English-language skills, participated in a program which instructed them in summarization skills based on a knowledge of story structure. Subjects' knowledge of story structure rose dramatically, and the performance level was maintained in one subject.…

This article provides college teachers with specific suggestions for improving students' writing styles and techniques. Elements of readability, sentence structure and combination, and overall construction are outlined and stylistic strategies are explained with numerous examples. (MSE)

Discusses the early writing experiences of preschool children, focusing on the first words that children learn to write, such as their names. Uses writing samples from three- and four-year olds to illustrate the early literacy development of preschool children. (MDM)

Describes how one English teacher revised course goals and journal writing assignments to promote better thinking and writing in a college literature course. Concentrates on the way "Beowulf" was taught and the kinds of writing about it that were produced by students as a result. (HB)

Teachers can use dialog journals to inspire their students to write. Such a method allows students to write and teachers to answer without worrying about red marks or negative comments. The article suggests topics to get students writing and ideas for encouraging students to write. (SM)

Examines reading and spelling errors made by children learning Arabic within a developmental framework. Finds that errors in reading and spelling persisted throughout primary school, pointing to the difficulties involved in mastering the Arabic written language. Notes that misreadings involved mainly diacritics whereas misspellings were related to…

Finds that the writing system and the reading system share many of the same orthographic, phonological, and working memory subprocesses but that the patterns of concurrent relationship between these subprocesses and writing and between these subprocesses and reading differ. Suggests that writing and reading draw upon the same as well as unique…