Discusses the rationale for experimenting with diverse discourse alternatives in writing classrooms. Offers examples of the readings that inspire the author and her students, as well as samples of student essays. (SR)

Discusses a form of poetry written for two voices--two side-by-side columns, each read by a different voice. Mentions precedents of this form in art, music, and poetry. Presents examples of fourth grade, high school, and university students' poems written in this form. (RS)

Describes two assignments conducted during the first few days of class that introduces students to the concept of format, provides a writing sample from each student, and furthers the process of students getting to know each other and the teacher. (SR)

Presents a nine-assignment sequence that has students engage three interconnected problems of writing and word processing. (SR)

Describes a business communication assignment in which students participate in a formal meeting (on coursework and evaluation) and later analyze the group processes. Notes that written activities from each student include preliminary memos, minutes of the meeting, and comments on group processes. (SR)

Uses two direct writing assignments to show that performance assessment denotes the kind of student response to be examined, whereas authentic assessment denotes assessment context. Although not all performance assessments are authentic, it is difficult to imagine an authentic assessment that would not also be a performance assessment. Educators…

Describes an assignment in which students interview businesses to learn about the kinds of writing done in that business and then assess the rhetorical context of such writing. (SR)

Describes how generating effective advertising copy affords students practice in aspects of persuasive writing, such as developing a thesis, refuting counter-arguments, and writing in a comparison-contrast mode. Notes that this approach helps students negotiate the problematic shift from expressive to persuasive discourse without losing their…

Describes an assignment in an undergraduate technical writing class in which students establish a mini-internship with an off-campus employer and complete a major writing task that will meet the needs of the employer. Discusses typical projects, monitoring the projects, feedback from supervisors, handling occasional problems, and benefits of the…

Describes four essay assignments in a sequence on experts that deal with sharing expertise, defining expertise, interviewing an expert, and seeing teachers as experts. Asserts that these assignments result in writing that is no longer the recapitulation of information received from experts but is communication notable for the quality of its…

Asserts that most technical writing textbooks are artificial as they do not force students to deal with writing problems in the same way as in the workplace. Maintains that technical writing instructors can provide their students with realistic writing alternatives. Discusses realistic alternatives for writing instruction and definitions. (PRA)

Describes a learning strategy which asks students to write questions that can be answered from the information posted on a graph that they created. (MG)

Presents sample writing assignments that enable students to practice social studies skills. Suggests that the use of creative writing assignments allows students to make a jump in time or place to the era and area being studied. Argues that using the imagination is a better approach to learning than memorizing facts. (DK)

Developing their own criteria for authentic learning prompted several teachers of a three-hour interdisciplinary block combining biology, U.S. history, and American literature to critique old, favorite assignments and develop new, more powerful ones for their tenth graders. Book reports and Civil War battle research yielded to more authentic and…

Describes a qualitative study of the practices of 12 teachers as they used writing activities in the classrooms. Presents examples of integration of writing and subject matter. (SR)