This book offers a broad range of perspectives on the study of literacy in which reading and writing is examined as it occurs in classrooms, businesses, communities, and families, among other settings. The book contains the following chapters: (1) "In Search of Meaning" (Judith Green); (2) "The Development of Literacy: Access, Acquisition and…

Synthesizing research on writing instruction using word processors, this annotated bibliography contains 28 references of articles and papers in the ERIC database. The first section includes strategies, techniques, exercises, activities, and ideas on how to use time on a word processor most effectively. Articles and papers discussing the numerous…

A survey investigated the type and frequency of integrated speaking-writing courses or programs at college-level institutions. The purpose of the survey was to gain a sense of the extent to which courses integrate speaking and writing (where speech is valued not merely as a convenience for conducting classroom business, but as a medium for…

A composition teacher incorporated film into her literature classes with the hope of drawing on her students' familiarity with this medium to promote their interest in reading as well as developing their reading and writing skills, but she found several problems in implementing this plan. She found that the simple instructions, "Read the…

Divided into four sections, this workbook offers assistance to teachers in preparing writing lessons and then in presenting these lessons in their own classrooms. Part 1, "The Writing Lessons," consists of 22 prewriting preparation and instruction lessons followed by 10-minute writing exercises covering various aspects of freewriting,…

Using the "pattern approach" is a means of teaching students to be confident and competent writers. In this method, the writer uses a device called a planning blank to establish purpose, audience, topic, and role as a writer. Then the overall structure can be planned. A good writing plan should suggest not only a beginning, middle, and…

This report describes a computer-assisted writing laboratory project integrating Model Curriculum Standards (teacher-developed instructional literature guides integrating the reading of core pieces of literature with the writing process), the writing process, computer hardware and software, and staff development. The report estimates that in the…

A perceived relationship between the teaching methods of traditional Zen Buddhism and those of process-based English composition is explored. It is noted that the four main processes of Zen teaching (meditation, physical work, personal interviews, and group lectures) focus on process, not product, as in process writing. Characteristics that Zen…

In order to make information about technical writing more available, the South Central Modern Language Association (SCMLA) has collected the papers not subject to copyright restrictions that were presented at the technical writing section of its 1987 meeting. The essays cover a wide range of topics in technical writing pedagogy and research. The…

A study was conducted to determine the ability of kindergarten children to match manuscript, cursive, italic, and D'Nealian handwritten letters to typeset letters, their ability to read letters in these five styles, and the relationship of reading and matching abilities. Children were asked to match typeset distractors to lower case letters…

While discouraging using writing as punishment, this pamphlet shows how writing can be a tool to support learning. The pamphlet discusses the following ten ways that writing can be used in any school subject to enhance learning and to develop students' thinking processes: (1) to identify personal goals, (2) to comprehend reading material, (3) to…

Pointing out the relationship between the writing process and business communications should help business students understand the necessity of communicating clearly and efficiently. Students should first learn that adequate preparation before using non-print communications devices--such as telephones--is as necessary as prewriting is before…

A study examined the quantity and quality of ideas produced in freshman composition students' writing to determine whether computer assisted instruction (CAI) stimulates invention as well as or better than current invention instruction in traditional classrooms. Two CAI programs were used: QUEST, the systematic program that examines an item/event…

Noting that expert computer systems respond to various contexts in terms of knowledge representation, this paper explains that heuristic rules of production, procedural representation, and frame representation have been adapted to such areas as medical diagnosis, signal interpretation, design and planning of electrical circuits and computer system…

The double-entry journal requires students to write affective response statements to readings, and to compare such entries with classmates. After discussions with peers and critical analysis of the literature, students write a second journal entry synthesizing insights gained from discussion, analysis, readings, and writings. The journal (1)…