Describes the problem of allowing students to voice their opinions in research papers. Argues that seeing this as a problem points to pedagogical problems. Shows how student hesitancy to engage their opinions reflects their own developing epistemology. (HB)

Reports on the gender-related difference in out-of-school writing experience of adult students returning to college. Discusses implications for teaching, maintaining that the differing writing backgrounds such students bring are resources to be utilized rather than deficits to be remedied. (SR)

A college English teacher discusses how her experience in learning to play a guitar has illuminated the teaching and learning processes, especially for first-year composition students who are motivated but not talented, or not highly motivated and expect failure. It is concluded that patience and kindness are important teaching tools. (MSE)

Examines the current status of freshman writing as a vehicle for bibliographic instruction based on a survey of four-year colleges. Perceptions of bibliographic instruction librarians are discussed; instruction methods used are described; and implications for further research are suggested. (22 references) (LRW)

Asserts that raising gender issues in freshman composition courses encourages critical thinking about relevant concerns in students' lives. States also that it is important to let students find the answers to the questions raised. (PRA)

Assesses the accuracy of Riverside Community College's entry-level assessment and placement practice, correlating reading and language assessment scores with grades in freshman composition and student demographics. Concludes that ASSET test scores alone were not strong predictors of student success and other data sources should be considered as…

Relates the story of a teacher research project, a case study designed to consider how word processing affected an undergraduate student's writing process, especially in terms of revising and of detecting basic surface errors. Describes research articles that substantiated what were originally thought to be idiosyncratic writing techniques. (PRA)

Investigates whether prompts and topic types affect writing performance of college freshmen taking the Manoa Writing Placement Examination (MWPE). Finds that the MWPE is reliable but that responses to prompts and prompt sets differ. Shows that differences arising in performance on prompts or topics can be minimized by examining mean scores and…

Reports on the findings of a study that examined the persuasive written texts of 60 university first-year composition students, half of whom were native speakers of English and half of whom were nonnative English speakers. Considers 33 variables between the 2 subgroups. Finds clear differences. Discusses results and implications for…

Reviews the evolution of the required Freshman English course of the 1960s into the present college composition course offered in most institutions. Notes the focus on enabling students to master the skill of writing through emphasis on the writing process. Raises concerns, however, over the large number of adjunct and/or part-time faculty…

Used focus group interviews to compare the first-semester experiences of students clustered for both their first-year seminar and English composition class and students taking only their first-year seminar together. Found that clustered students were more satisfied with the seminar, experienced greater peer support, enjoyed better relationships…

Studies students' writing, thinking, and cooperative processes in a research and argumentation class (part of a first-year composition sequence) working on a research assignment in small groups. Suggests ways to help students become more successful cooperative researchers. (SR)

Examines the effect of a 10- to 20-minute pre-session given in the classroom prior to a regularly scheduled library instruction session in the library upon the affective experience of freshmen composition students. Results demonstrated that students felt better about the library, the librarians, and the research in general when exposed to a…

Using sample student analyses of online paper mill Web sites, student survey responses, and existing scholarship on plagiarism, authorship, and intellectual property, this article examines how the consumerist rhetoric of the online paper mills construes academic writing as a commodity for sale, and why such rhetoric appeals to students in…

The author of more than one article has asserted in these pages that a goal of studying composition is to transcend the natural orality of the untrained intellect. Keith Whitaker hereby turns that around. While he allows the salutary effect of patterning one's prose after the great works of our civilization, he cites Socrates and the Bible to…