The formative-summative distinction in evaluation is defended as a reasonable way to classify evaluation activities. Context ultimately defines the formative or summative functions of evaluation. The characteristics of an evaluator are defined, and points of agreement with the other contributors to the forum are noted. (SLD)

Discusses the concern over the lack of employability competencies that high school and college graduates bring to the workplace. Suggests that the dissatisfaction is often with what are called "soft skills" or one of many other terms. Attempts to clarify the semantic confusion regarding workplace competencies. (JOW)

Briefly reviews the complexities surrounding the definition of giftedness and explores the problems of identification from the point of view of the regular classroom teacher. Discusses developing a definition, the behavior problems of gifted students, and the differences between bright children and gifted students. (Author/CR)

Addresses the definition prevalent in writing center scholarship that divides centers into rigid ideological categories with specific, often metaphorical names and distinct activities, theoretical foundations, and sense of place within academic institutions. Argues that situating writing centers within these separable categories brings the danger…

Traces changes in the concept of argument. Results of three studies (of 5-16 year olds, of transition from high school to college, and of higher education) are used to form a working definition: arrangement of linguistic, visual, and/or physical propositions in engagement with one or more points of reference to change or assert a position. (SK)

In the 21st century, the redefinition of teacher professionalism will include three primary features: recognizing oneself as a learner; using that learning-centered spirit to transform schools into learning organizations; and reasserting one's own moral autonomy to provide space and time for serious, reflective thought and study. This redefinition…

Makes several points relating to personal essays: (1) personal essays can be defined as having "presence"; (2) the personal essay is both historically and currently a relative rarity; (3) "personal" does not necessarily mean a display of innermost self; (4) voguish denials of the human subject militate against the personal essay; and (5) personal…

Nine defining attributes of skill and skilled performance are as follows: skill is learned; content and contextual knowledge is important; skilled performance is goal directed and requires motivation; schemata are prerequisites; relevant problem solving is involved; skill involves relative judgments with individual performance differences;…

Description and explanation are frequently given precedence over validation when evaluating distance-learning technologies. Evaluation criteria can be categorized into technical, instructional, organizational, and ethical components. Descriptive and explanatory methods include participant observation, interviews, focus groups, document review,…

Explores the relationship between philology and linguistics and the meanings associated with the two terms at different periods in the development of language study as a science. Chronicles the emergence of different perspectives since the early nineteenth century, particularly in Britain and Europe, and argues that the debate has not been…

Developmental changes in the expression of superordinates in children's word definitions were studied with 96 elementary school students. Superordination increased significantly and changed qualitatively with age, although across grades children produced more superordinates for nouns than for adjectives or verbs. (SLD)

Multiracial people of Asian descent, like most marginalized peoples, live along the borders of "passing," and not passing, for White. When Asian American multiracial people can express the full range of their humanity without boundaries of race, the debate about "passing" will become obsolete. (SLD)

Points out linguistic and logical inconsistencies that come into play when African populations are discussed through the medium of Eurocentric discourse. "African" is suggested as a more logical way to define people with an origin on the African continent than the term "black". (SLD)

Proposes a nomenclature for suicide-related behavior in the hope of improving the clarity and precision of communications, advancing suicidological research and knowledge, and improving the efficacy of clinical interventions. Provides a background of the ambiguity surrounding suicide terminology, contrasts nomenclature with classification, and…

Reviews the concept of rational suicide and compares it with one researcher's list of commonalities of suicide. Claims that the list cannot accommodate rational suicide. Suggests that the list is biased against rational suicide and should be renamed so it cannot be maintained that suicide must be irrational. (RJM)