Attainment tests in English and mathematics were administered to a total sample of 2,011/15-year old students. The English test consisted of a composition and a test battery of objective items. Marking of the composition was made by the test designer on a rapid first-impression reading. The objective test battery consisted of a comprehension test,…

This reader is designed to accompany the fifth text in the Orientation in American English series. It is intended to provide advanced practice in reading comprehension as well as concentrated practice in composition techniques and writing. At the same time it supports and reinforces concepts and structures introduced in the text. The reader may be…

Television news has become the most important, believable, and even the only news source for millions of people. This book examines all the skills required by the television journalist and delves into sources of news stories, interviewing techniques, writing and editing decisions, writing style, use of camera, sound and editing equipment, and use…

The purpose of this booklet is to show the role and importance of work-oriented literacy for development, that it is a way of training to adapt techno-vocational and socioeconomic requirements of development. Work-oriented literacy is geared to the felt needs and interests of selected vocational groups--farmers, factory workers, small traders,…

A quinmester course in English for fifth grade students is outlined in this guide. The primary purpose of the course is to develop language through current literature; a secondary purpose is to acquaint the pupils with different forms of current literature. The four areas of the course are Musical Lyrics, Current Articles, Short Stories, and…

As a result of an extensive examination of its freshman composition program, the English department at the University of Nebraska at Omaha created an individualized, self-paced program in writing. This paper describes the areas of concern identified during the assessment of the traditional writing program, discusses the principles upon which the…

The articles in this issue of "Classroom Practices" were contributed by authors who believe that schools can and should play an important role in removing sexism from life in America. The book is divided into four thematic sections--developing awareness, seeking insights, units on sexism, and theory and resources--which present ideas and lessons…

The effectiveness of certain nonsimulation academic games in a gaming system called Teams-Games-Tournaments (TGT) was investigated as a method of teaching the skills of capitalization and punctuation. A sample of 138 eighth-grade students participated in an 18-day experiment comparing three teaching methods: gaming, in which students were taught…

The California State University and Colleges English Placement Test was designed to provide information about the reading and writing skills of newly admitted college students. The validity of this measure is examined. (Author/JKS)

The authors review studies which suggest that sentence combining exercises might improve composition in ways that traditional grammar has long been alleged to do, particularly in the areas of sentence structure, usage, ideas, and style. Implications are drawn for grammar instruction in the middle school. (Author/SJL)

Because of their effectiveness, as well as their accessiblity as points of reference, TV commercials can provide excellent bridges in teaching concepts of good, effective writing. Specificity through metaphor is only one of the many basic writing course topics that can be effectively illustrated through TV commercials. (Author/EB)

Describes a method for teaching language skills to adults through various reading, speaking, and writing exercises. (AM)

A Uruguayan teacher of French to adult secondary students describes her experience setting up a letter-writing program between her students and Ugandan students of French. The subjects of the letters are cultural. (Text is in French.) (MLA)

Early childhood classes traditionally have used a "multi-" approach to education that is based on young children's growth and development. Offers a variety of multisensory and multimedia activities in many curriculum areas that can be useful in the busy end-of-school weeks. (Author/RK)

We persist in seeing writing as a method of moral development, not as an essential mode of communication; the eradication of error is more important than the encouragement of expression. We need to balance receiving and sending and to restore writing as an educational basic. (Author)