Explores a writing-project teacher's premises about writing and illustrates how those underlying principles drove her instruction, influenced children's work, and created a particular theory of writing in her classroom culture. Finds that writing conferences are important instructional conversations for teaching writing; learning to write involves…

Considers that the author has a responsibility to help her students understand the situations of others. Wants students to try and get "inside the skins" of people so different from them. Describes how her students research, write, edit, rewrite, redo, and finally publish their original pieces in conjunction with each study they undertake. (SG)

Examines how art and design students' approaches to writing are potentially enriched by their creative approach to design. Suggests ways in which the art and design training could be exploited and used as a resource to produce strategies that work with all students. Concludes the key is to ask students about their creative preferences and build on…

Suggests that the best writing curriculum for second language students is one that balances content and form, that calls for an attention to writing process and to written product, and that draws on knowledge from both teacher and student. Describes the "focus on form" approach the author uses in her mainstream basic writing class, as well as some…

This article discusses writing processes and writing process instruction, describes a computer writing environment called computer-assisted composing (CAC), reviews research on CAC that incorporates process instruction for elementary and secondary students, and examines CAC research that focuses on writing-disabled students. (50 references) (LRW)

Argues that a theory-based explanation is needed to understand the nature and reasons for students' problems with writing persuasive researched papers. Proposes that teachers nurture creativity by teaching students to see themselves as scholars and to set reading and writing goals for themselves that will allow them to think constructively. (MG)

Discusses how a high school writing teacher became increasingly aware of her own writing processes and attitudes toward writing. Reflects on what makes writing worthwhile for her, what prompts her to write, and what part revision plays in her writing. Notes that becoming a reflective writer has changed the way she teaches writing. (RS)

Suggests that technical writers should emphasize similarities rather than differences between oral and written discourse. Argues that implicit rules of conversation have much to offer the technical writer. Illustrates how the principles of conversation can be applied to the process of writing instructions. (KEH)

Argues that, although Peter Elbow's and David Bartholomae's pedagogies attempt in different ways to authorize students to write, both rely on the experience and resistance to language as the primary means of empowerment. Suggests that Elbow and Bartholomae must continually defer authority, keeping it suspended between experience and its…

Suggests that students keep writing logs (a record of problems and solutions, techniques, and strategies) as a way to develop conscious control of their writing processes. (RAE)

Examines the opposition of objectified exposition and personal narrative posited by rhetorical tradition and maintained by most composition texts and syllabi today. Argues that the best thinking and writing are simultaneously personal and public, infused with private meaning and focused upon the world beyond the self.(MG)

Examines the role of orality in multiple-audience analysis and adaptation. Finds that interaction is the central means of analyzing and adapting discourse to multiple audiences, fulfilling rhetorical and social goals, and building and sustaining a corporate culture. Suggests that orality is more potent than literacy in composing behavior and…

Describes using meditation to write with greater concentration, continuity, and depth, at any level of writing skill. Describes how to consciously cultivate the ability to focus, follow, and trace ideas through writing. (SR)

Tests a theoretical model of hemispheric brain activity which attempts to explain the relation between visual ability and verbal written compositions. Concludes that the model which indicates that synthesis is a right brain activity and that visualizing activity can assist synthesis is supported for right-handed students. (RS)

Examines students' frequent failure to write meaningful essays in light of their inability to use personal experience as a basis for their writing. Compares the processes of writing and experiential learning. Suggests ways of transforming writing assignments into learning experiences. (DMM)