The Test of Standard Written English was found to be nearly as valid as the California State University and Colleges English Placement Test, while requiring one-fifth of the time. Both tests were more valid than the Scholastic Aptitude Test-Verbal in predicting English composition grades. (JKS)

Describes a successful experimental program at West Virginia University which involved using undergraduate English Education majors as tutors in the Writing Laboratory. (DD)

It is argued that law schools must identify their needs and techniques in a legal writing program rather than just accept existing models. The process of program design requires a consensus as to appropriate goals and the selection of narrowly defined methods to achieve these goals. (JMD)

Presents a unit for use in high school English classes on "A Short History of American Painting, Colonial Period Through 1900," and discusses how it was developed. The unit was used in the ninth grade, but it can be modified to facilitate the teaching of a variety of skills at any grade level. (JM)

Amid the horseplay and banter of the students, a grim and earnest struggle goes in a Maryland high school reading and writing remedial lab. (Editor)

Individualized, personalized, self-paced and computer assisted instruction at the English multimedia laboratory of San Antonio College (Texas) provides effective instruction in basic language skills for college freshmen who lack competence in this area. (JG)

The results are now in from the national and state testing programs, and they show that the decline in test scores of high school students is a national trend. Score decline has provided educators with a powerful tool for improving literacy through the reintroduction of composition courses and composition requirements. (Author)

Evaluated whole-literacy curriculum's effects on literacy achievement among native Hawaiian students in grades K-6. Found that teachers entered curriculum project with proficiency in some areas of implementation, such as classroom organization, but required support in other areas, such as portfolio assessment. Also found that full implementation…

To restructure the language curriculum and integrate multimedia technology at the College of Staten Island of the City University of New York, instructional software was developed for a multimedia laboratory environment. This report provides information on the hardware and primary software chosen for the project, the creation of interactive…

Reports on an investigation of the out-of-school literacy practices of two African American urban high school students. Conclusions are drawn about the complex and productive ways these youths use literacy practices in their social environments. Implications are made for instruction using youth culture as a bridge to writing development. (SLD)

Finds that California State University at Northridge Business Faculty perceive their students to have problems with basic writing skills as well as with sophisticated writing concepts and techniques and seem to agree on the content that should be included in a business communication course. Recommends guidelines for revising the business…

One way parents can improve their children's literacy skills is to create home portfolios. These showcase portfolios represent the child's best efforts and reflect achievements, and their scope is limitless. Creating home portfolios fosters self-esteem, teaches students about portfolios, encourages parent-child interactions, and improves study…

Describes how students who are learning disabled can improve their writing skills through physical movement and manipulating visuals. Describes how movement draws on kinesthetic intelligence and manipulatives draw on spatial intelligence to help students understand language structures in nonverbal ways that may be more intuitive than verbal…

Four ideas for French language classroom activities are described: an exercise in listening to popular songs; a film scenario rewriting exercise; a technique for teaching the subjunctive mood; and a paired or small-group activity to enhance understanding of advertising. (MSE)

Explains that the Teacher Rating of Oral Language and Literacy (TROLL) measures skills critical to the New Standards for Speaking and Listening. Notes that TROLL is used to track children's progress in language and literacy development; to inform curriculum; and to stimulate parent teacher communication. Concludes children who are busy talking,…