Describes how short films can be used as paradigms in the composition class, gives several examples of particular films, and describes how to include film in a class. (CRH)

Appraises the results of an exercise in which students in a composition class attempted to write detective stories. Concludes that many of their syntactic errors result from their intentions exceeding their level of writing skill. (RBW)

Argues that knowledge about the early development of college English departments and the place composition instruction assumed in them is important for modern composition teachers. Suggests that a writing teacher's development can be measured by the degree to which that person has become liberated from current-traditional rhetoric. (RBW)

Traces the decline in importance and scope of invention under the prevalent current-traditional approach to rhetoric. Suggests that as a result students are being taught a writing process and a set of assumptions about discourse that have nothing to do with either how writing gets done or with contemporary thinking about the relation of language…

Links the teaching of contemporary folklore with writing instruction. Finds that the study of folklore can help students learn to write well and to think analytically. (RBW)

Describes the effect the teaching of a unit on contemporary folklore had on a high school English teacher and her students. Suggests that within each student is a wealth of untapped information that can be used as a basis from which to explore different kinds of writing and which can lead to new ways of looking at literature. (RBW)

Outlines a literature course in which students select their best work for grading and must be self-motivated in producing it. (CRH)

At Wayne State University, a two-year research and curriculum effort, the Professional Writing Project (PWP), showed that English departments can better prepare students to write effectively for the workplace and increase writing faculty's research and teaching capabilities through collaborating with industry to plan a professional writing…

Discusses two types of video field trips: (1) motivational tapes which include interviews and tours and are designed to relate writing skills to job success, and (2) tutorial tapes, which include interviews, discussion films, subject films, and videotape projects, and are designed to enhance specific assignments in a technical writing course.…

Deals with the special problems of collaborative writing, such as integrating style, tone, and purpose. Notes that with access to a computer, collaborative writers can improve communication by using electronic mail to review rough drafts and by editing their work with word processing software. (EL)

Points out that students can be motivated to improve their writing if writing assignments can be designed to be similar in scope and purpose to those that the students will be doing later in their professions. (EL)

Discusses the use of audiotapes for basic writing students and explains different ways to use blank tapes. Describes available programs and lists the companies selling them. (EL)

Provides beginning writers and their instructors with an oral proofreading technique to reduce student errors by 40-50 percent. (CRH)

Demonstrates through a single case study the link between sufficient functional writing skills and the additional symbolic skills needed to improve occupational and academic status. (CRH)

Outlines the advantages of using microcomputers in producing high school newspapers--word processors permit the generation of columnar newspaper copy and encourage student revision--and suggests three necessary characteristics in computer hardware--a large memory, good software, and reliable technical assistance for handling problems. (MM)