Provides a condensed refresher course in improved proposal writing. Focuses on the following points that are applicable to a range of documents: (1) be persuasive; (2) be logical; (3) control the presentation; (4) review the presentation; (5) make a final evaluation and revise accordingly. (JD)

Describes a California junior high school program using "Writing across the Curriculum." As the program developed over the years, writing became viewed more as a legitimate learning tool. (MD)

A comparison of the story-writing abilities of learning-disabled (N=47), low-achieving (N=15), and normal-achieving (N=19) third-, fifth-, and seventh-graders revealed age- and learning capacity-related differences in the categories of story, primitive story, action sequence, descriptive, and expressive skills. (Author/CB)

Argues for a rethinking of the act of writing as the creation of a work of art. Discusses the implications of how a change in view can affect the practice of teaching writing. (JC)

A college-level, interdisciplinary psychology and composition course that emphasized understanding the human condition is described. Principles of behavior introduced in the psychology class were portrayed in action through the literature read and discussed in the English class. Students wrote their English compositions on issues raised and…

After defining key terms, the article discusses options for the written language assessment of handicapped children in the areas of composition evaluation, and transcription evaluation. Types of evaluating include indirect measures, direct measures, process evaluation, product evaluation, holistic evaluation, and analytic evaluation. (DB)

A simply-constructed letter-writing template can help learning-disabled elementary students (or other students with writing problems) overcome concern about proper form and concentrate on content and communication skills. School and home activities to reinforce skills include writing to pen pals, writing for free or inexpensive materials, and…

The Attitude Toward Writing Inventory, is a simple, Likert-type instrument designed to assess students' positive, neutral, or negative attitudes toward writing. This instrument helps to identify the negative attitudes which must be changed before an instructional method can be effective. (CB)

Presents eight short writing activities that do not involve grading papers or using the entire class period. The activities are intended to help students summarize lessons, increase comprehension and memory, organize facts and ideas, identify examination topics, and practice general writing skills. (GEA)

Describes a series of writing assignments which may be used to develop writing skills among secondary level history students. The assignments are sequenced to begin with lower level intellectual skills and build student confidence. (BSR)

A five-year-old hearing impaired girl who arrives at a residential school for the deaf without having had the opportunity to learn to communicate goes through the early stages of writing development. Similarities between the developmental stages of oral and written language and the importance of providing behavior models are discussed. (VW)

Describes a writing process approach to research papers which involves four steps: prewriting, composing, rewriting, and sharing. Illustrates the process using an intermediate grade level example but states that the process is appropriate at higher levels. Stresses that this approach is important because it integrates writing skills with social…

Argues that teachers can help bring writing-for-assessment and writing-as-process into closer interplay by helping students develop their overall writing skills and learn how to adapt them to timed situations. Claims that taking advantage of the latest composition research will help teachers do this. (JD)

Educable mentally retarded students (N=6) made daily dialogue journal entries for 40 days. Analysis of topics, language functions, and syntax revealed that: students produced functionally relevant, interactive communication; topics were more appropriate to chronological (18 years) than mental age (10 years); and written linguistic production was…

Proposes a method for teaching essay revision in introductory composition courses based on using, as an analogue, the way in which a painter moves from sketch to completed painting. Reports on and generalizes from classroom experiments which used the visual arts to teach students to revise. (JDH)