Reports on a study designed to reveal differences in quality ratings that teachers in three high school curricular areas--English and social studies, mathematics and science, and business--gave to representative samples of freshman writing in the argument mode. (RBW)

Appraises the results of an exercise in which students in a composition class attempted to write detective stories. Concludes that many of their syntactic errors result from their intentions exceeding their level of writing skill. (RBW)

A college English teacher laments her students' incorrect use of common expresssions. (RBW)

Discusses two types of video field trips: (1) motivational tapes which include interviews and tours and are designed to relate writing skills to job success, and (2) tutorial tapes, which include interviews, discussion films, subject films, and videotape projects, and are designed to enhance specific assignments in a technical writing course.…

Deals with the special problems of collaborative writing, such as integrating style, tone, and purpose. Notes that with access to a computer, collaborative writers can improve communication by using electronic mail to review rough drafts and by editing their work with word processing software. (EL)

Points out that students can be motivated to improve their writing if writing assignments can be designed to be similar in scope and purpose to those that the students will be doing later in their professions. (EL)

Discusses the use of audiotapes for basic writing students and explains different ways to use blank tapes. Describes available programs and lists the companies selling them. (EL)

Demonstrates through a single case study the link between sufficient functional writing skills and the additional symbolic skills needed to improve occupational and academic status. (CRH)

Describes planning, writing, and putting into operation of an intensive course for personnel planning to work in the foreign department of a large commercial bank such as the Credito Italiano. A detailed account is given of compilation of the integrated grading test that is used at the beginning of the course to split up the students into…

Critiques educational reform movement. Believes that unless the human dimension is improved, all reform proposals will fail. If American public education is to be saved, a better job of teaching the link between public education and a free society is needed. (MD)

The Maryland Functional Writing Program is designed to increase student performance in writing through improved instructional and assessment procedures. The Declared Competencies Index lists two writing goals supported by 39 objectives. A combination of direct and indirect writing assessment is used. (DWH)

Investigates the relative effectiveness of two adjunct questioning techniques employed to increase writers' elaboration. (HOD)

Described is a mini-investigation model, which elementary social studies teachers can use to help students acquire and process information when writing reports. In their investigation of a topic, students must ask the right questions, list possible resources, and develop a product, e.g., poster, news article. (RM)

Suggests that by studying and writing dime novels, students can develop their understanding of literary history and gain skill in working with such literary concepts as theme, plot, setting, and characterization. (MM)

A review of research from American cities and a description of an inservice teacher education program in Newfoundland focus on connections among teacher attitudes, nonstandard dialects, and students' low levels of writing and reading abilities. (GW)