Argues that the set of style, usage, and spelling check computer programs marketed as "Writer's Workbench" is an effective aid to good writing, giving users the opportunity to edit and revise text depending upon each individual user's purpose. Reports on a survey of teachers' and students' use of "Writer's Workbench" at St.…

Responses and rebuttals to a previous article regarding the role of academic writing in second language instruction raise issues concerning writing instruction practices and content area writing. (CB)

Reviews research on the effect of computers on writing. Concludes that students will not automatically revise and write more successfully with a word processor, that students tend to submit papers with fewer mechanical errors using word processors, and that they enjoy writing more and may collaborate more. (RS)

Three examples from Canadian schools and elsewhere illustrate the ways in which computers and computer networks can improve language skills, both first and second. Computer networks can provide opportunities for collaborative learning experiences facilitating literacy development and cultural exchange. (LMO)

Gives strategies middle school teachers can use to promote student writing. Includes brief discussions of authentic writing; freedom of topic choice; free time to write; and the process of review, revision, feedback, and reinforcement. (ET)

Discusses ways that whole-language teachers can address the concerns raised by administrators, teachers, and parents about the use of portfolios in language arts classes. Suggests that teachers can use student self-evaluation and other methods to assign grades in portfolio-based classes, and master various techniques to reduce the time needed to…

Discusses techniques that elementary school teachers can use to help students assess their own achievement. Suggests that writing checklists can be used to evaluate content, organization, grammar, and diction and that student self-assessments are also a useful part of parent-student-teacher conferences. (MDM)

Three examples of conversation and composition courses that work well because of a large amount of preparation and coordination are outlined in this article. Courses in German, French, and Spanish are included that are concrete examples. (JL)

Reports on a two-year descriptive study of eight low-income children's writing in skills-based and whole language instruction. Finds that the students at the "top" did well in whole language instruction, and for less proficient learners, the whole language curriculum appeared to provide more support. (RS)

The Early Literacy Project focused on involving students in contextualized literary activities, developing learning strategies, constructing classroom dialogs about literacy, supporting learners in their zones of proximal development, and creating literacy communities. Research with 88 primary-grade students with mild disabilities indicated clear…

Reviews two prevalent paradigms for language writing education: the social, using formalized methods to bring students of all backgrounds into mainstream academic literacy; and the developmental, emphasizing theories of language acquisition to enable students to approximate literacy through their cultural contexts. Argues against viewing these…

Reviews the following books: (1) "101 Educational Conversations with Your Kindergartner-1st Grader" (Perrone); (2) "The Story in History: Writing Your Way into History" (Galt); (3) "Interactive Handbook for Understanding Reading Diagnosis" (Roskos and Walker); (4) "Educational Renewal: Better Teachers, Better…

First-year law students' writing would improve if students were encouraged and inspired by upbeat, practical pedagogical techniques and internalized notions of audience and purpose from the first day of class. By borrowing from journalism education, law schools could produce lawyers who are better communicators. (MSE)

Describes a study that investigated issues related to timing of feedback in writing instruction and explores answers to the following: (1) What would English-as-a-Second-Language learners like to have emphasized in feedback and when? (2) While revising, do learners respond to feedback on both content and language use? and (3) What are the…

Discusses the lack of emphasis on writing skills in elementary and intermediate language classes, the purpose and process of writing, and general recommendations for the incorporation of writing into the language curriculum. Contains specific examples of writing tasks, including the composition of telegrams, recipes, postcards, directions, and…