Helping students in grades 3 through 11 to master the mechanics of language, this book describes the "Caught'ya" approach to teaching grammar, in which students correct error-filled sentences that form an ongoing humorous plot. The book notes that the sentences are presented 3 to 5 times a week at the start of class and take less than 10…

A study compared the exclusive use of an electronic speller, the exclusive use of a personal spelling dictionary, as well as the use of a combination of the two, as tools for students to increase their consistent use of standard spelling. Subjects, 21 heterogeneously grouped fifth-grade students attending a suburban elementary school, completed a…

Drawing from various current grammar systems, this text provides a practical and easy-to-understand handbook of grammar for readers of expository prose (language written for explanation and read for understanding). The analysis in the book is designed to perform two functions: (1) help readers receive with clarity, if at all possible, the…

Since students enter college with a basic knowledge of the mechanics of writing, including grammar, spelling, and punctuation, most student writing mistakes amount to a failure to see what they have actually written. Thus, instructors must help students to apply knowledge they already have and to see their own errors through careful proofreading.…

A study evaluated a program designed to increase knowledge of vowel sounds and improve phonetic and conventional spelling of children who showed a low level of spelling. Their level was so low that written communication beyond the most rudimentary level was effectively denied them. Subjects, 32 children from 10 participating schools broadly…

One of the most difficult problems facing researchers on writing is to define writing as a construct. The way writing is conceptualized determines how writing assignments are created and how written products are analyzed and rated. A functional approach to defining writing as a construct is presented here. It begins with the overall construct of…

Arguing that becoming a successful author requires the ability to write simply, clearly, and forcefully, this book provides practical suggestion for clear and forceful professional writing. Chapters include: (1) "Why Write"; (2) "Finding Topics"; (3) "Getting Started"; (4) "About Style"; (5) "Organizing…

The purpose of this document is to provide teachers with a uniform guide and uniform standards for writing skills, and with general style principles which will provide for an easy flow of student skill development in grades one through six. Included under the major heading of General Skills are: Ten Steps to Better Writing; The Proper Heading;…

An approach to teaching grammar through the use of speaking and listening activities is presented in this brief article. AUTHOR'S COMMENT (excerpt): Why practice the language simply by completing worksheets or exercises in the grammar book? There are various ways to teach language through speaking and listening exercises. These are several…

A text's meaning is, in part, independent of its form. Reading, most of the time, is taking meaning--not words--from the printed page, while proofreading requires attention to form rather than meaning. The author notes that: (1) a meaningful passage is easier to read than one with less meaning; (2) errors in oral reading usually do not obscure a…

A thirty-year case study of a Russian soldier suffering from a severe syndrome of parietal aphasia is discussed. Luria's book, "The Man with a Shattered World," is based on the soldier's 3,000-page diary, written after a period of training wherein he was told to write as fast as possible. (SCC)

Twelve university students of Latin were assigned the task of translating Lincoln's Gettysburg Address into Latin. Some of the difficulties are touched on, and two successful examples are quoted in full. The advantages of using such exercises in intermediate and advanced Latin classes are mentioned. (RM)

The author offers journalism tips to vocational agriculture teachers involved in public relations coverage through newspaper articles. Specific suggestions cover headlines, leading paragraphs, localization of the story, organization, and format of a news release. (EA)