Reviews the research literature on the teaching of writing. Lists practices and procedures that the research shows to be either helpful or of dubious value. (AEA)

Examines the pedagogical approaches and problems attendant to the development of English writing programs for foreign students. Discusses the skills necessary to handle course work, such as essay tests, term papers and reports, theses and dissertations, and focuses particularly on diagnostic problems and acceptability criteria. Societe Nouvelle…

Assessed the effectiveness of two methods for teaching students to write using inclusive generic pronouns. Found that both approaches were effective but that the authority approach (one forced upon an individual) produced more change in pronoun usage than the optional approach (one made by the individual by and for him/herself). (PD)

Commitment of the full-time faculty to instruction in elementary legal writing is debated. Pedrick suggests that teachers of English composition should teach basic writing, while N. William Hines and William A. Reppy assert that faculty commitment to skills training produces tangible results in improved competence. (MLW)

Examines the effects of stressing three phases of the composing process (feedback, revision, and invention) in the teaching of composition. (HOD)

Describes the development of a program for teaching preschool children to read and write using microcomputers in the Oakville, Ontario public library. (CHC)

Explores the transition of several children from spoken language to beginning writing. (HTH)

Examines research on cultural literacy (knowledge of what others know) and relates this research to writing skills and the teaching of writing. (RL)

Suggests adapting teacher-written responses on children's compositions to their individual differences as an effective way to promote educational progress. Written comments can take the form of reaction to the child's ideas, encouragement, correction, or evaluation/instruction. (AEA)

Despite a lack of support for the teaching of writing as a process that requires much practice, administrators must support teachers in this proved method of teaching writing skills. (Author/JM)

Recent history of writing research introduces a treatise on the development of writing abilities in preschool age children. Topics include composing processes, an examination of research done on the function rather than the form of writing, and language variation among various ethnolinguistic groups. (JN)

College freshmen practicing rhetorically based sentence combining for a semester proved superior to conventionally trained students in both quality and syntactic maturity of writing. After 28 months, on a post test, intergroup differences were no longer statistically significant. (This study report includes a research review and experimental and…

A survey of writing research indicates positive directions for teaching composition: reflecting developmental patterns in curriculum guides; emphasizing prewriting and revising strategies; giving priority to problem solving and creative thinking skills, attending to rhetorical issues like purpose and audience, and conducting research in the…

Describes high school English courses which use a seminar approach, emphasizing discussion and writing, to promote a cooperative, student-centered critical and analytical method of teaching literature. (CM)

Reports on an investigation of the out-of-school literacy practices of two African American urban high school students. Conclusions are drawn about the complex and productive ways these youths use literacy practices in their social environments. Implications are made for instruction using youth culture as a bridge to writing development. (SLD)