Argues that children are as deep as the ocean, with secret places inside of them waiting to be opened. Notes that it is powerful for students to learn they can make sense of the world through words, and describes inviting them into poetry as they read poetry, create poetry packets, and write and revise poems. (SR)

Surveys college students regarding their use of instructor comments written on their papers. Finds all students tend to use comments; no significant correlations exist between students' ability levels and their propensity to review, understand, and use comments; students were likely to review comments if they had to rewrite assignments; and…

Follow-up study of 16 Indiana high schools disclosed that 10 years of discussion and practice yielded little progress. Modest gains included microscopically better new teacher training, slightly reduced class size, and more administrative support. Teachers in other disciplines remained indifferent to student writing problems and equally resistant…

Examines issues of writing instruction and assessment as they relate to an approach to English language education, developed in Australia, which emphasizes the importance of the teacher's use of metalanguage to enhance a shared understanding of language among teachers and students. Reviews genre theory and considers its relevance to teaching,…

Describes the writing program at Pepperdine University, where some of the composition sections incorporate a service learning component. Makes a case for service learning as a productive space in a composition course. (TB)

A tongue-in-cheek essays argues that if college instructors believe "writing across the curriculum" improves student learning and writing skills, and convince their students, it might become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Reading or grading the essays will be unnecessary; students can pretend they have written something, and teachers can pretend that…

Presents sample questions for use as a guide for teachers to question students about literature and to model effective questioning techniques for them. Details topics, including literary characteristics; setting; vocabulary; general questions; characters; author; plot, theme, mood, and moral; and illustrations-pictures. (KDFB)

Discusses the importance of recruitment for classes producing student publications to ensure the necessary skills and sufficient numbers. Suggests that personal interaction is the most effective method of recruiting students. Describes retention and recruitment related to the production of an eclectic magazine and a sports media guide in two…

Reports on a study of seven experienced secondary school writing teachers in Victoria, Australia. Focuses on how their own writing or lack of writing affects their teaching practices and effectiveness. Finds that the issue of becoming an effective writing teacher is more complex than the seemingly straightforward prescription that writing teachers…

Summarizes Hillock's findings regarding first-language composition instruction and compares them to research into second-language composition instruction. The article discusses implications for teaching writing to English-as-a-Second-Language students and recommends a process/product, task-based approach to writing instruction. (20 references)…

Reviews the effect of research into the writing process on British English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) pedagogy and considers what is meant by process writing. The article offers recommendations for improving writing tasks in coursebooks to practice and develop students' skills needed at each stage of the writing process. (12 references)…

Contends second language literature yields little empirical evidence of a relationship between the features associated with first language voice and quality of academic writing. Writing samples requiring learners to argue in favor of or against an aspect of Canada's immigration policy were elicited from 63 students in a writing-intensive…

Focuses on the use of student publications in journals as a teaching tool. Explores the use of this technique in three contexts: (1) enabling students to understand experimental methodology; (2) teaching students about statistics; and (3) helping students learn more about the American Psychological Association (APA) writing style. (CMK)

Highlights a practicum course designed to train upper-level undergraduates as English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) writing tutors for their peers. The course offers tutors intensive, basic training in tutoring, TESL, and pedagogical grammar for 2 weeks before they begin tutoring. (Author/VWL)

Presents a case study action research project that considers how purposeful emphasis on emotional awareness could potentially influence the feelings of self-confidence and empowerment, which are two demonstrations of emotional growth. Suggests that a significant factor in promoting the emotional development of students is the genuine interest of…