Examines narrative choices in experimental (interpretative) and traditional (analytical) ethnographies. Discusses probability in quantitative and qualitative research, ethnographic narratives as ways of knowing and telling about the world, perspective as a consequence of both narrative voice and stance, and the economics of producing…

Argues that the study of literature has been stripped of its usefulness and purely theoretical while the study of rhetoric has been stripped of theory and reduced to practical, applied stylistics. (SRT)

Describes the main strands of theory and practice in early nineteenth-century grammar teaching and shows how these "analytic" and "synthetic" approaches were combined in grammar texts in the middle of the century, contributing to an eclectic theory of expression employed in both grammar and composition teaching by the l890s.…

Argues that teachers can address the problem of how to integrate free and structured inquiry in the classical "progymnasmata," exercises designed to train the classical student in the art of "invention." Describes such exercises. (FL)

Explores the mental processes involved in preparing to write. (FL)

Reviews how a sophomore class of gifted students selected a subject for their learning logs; tells how to write a learning log; offers ideas on evaluating learning logs; presents student reflections on the use of learning logs. (JK)

Notes that the ways in which feature stories "go wrong" tend to cluster into patterns, and presents a classroom developed list of tag-words and one-line definitions for marking feature assignments and use in group critiques. (HTH)

Describes a writing exercise useful for students who have already shown some facility in writing about personal experiences and that emphasizes the narrowing of scope and time in a reminiscence and developing it with detail in order to make it more interesting for others. (HTH)

Based on a review of literature, the premise is developed that summary writing is an extremely complex task that is not appreciably enhanced through trial and error methods. Argues that some direct instruction is necessary and offers a writing strategy that integrates five steps from a direct instruction model with six rules for summarizing text.…

Relates the author's reflections on her early experiences as a student in China and her recent experiences as a composition teacher in the United States. Reveals how the frustration and confusion the author experienced growing up caught between two conflicting worlds ultimately helped her to grow as a reader and writer. (JD)

Assimilation and accommodation are two approaches for developing language arts curricula for gifted elementary grade students. Some adaptations, such as more individualized reading may be readily assimilated into existing curricula. Other changes, such as providing opportunities for technical writing, require more accommodation of current methods,…

Describes an in-class interview exercise that allows the teacher to show proper questioning techniques. (FL)

The Boothbay Writing Project was developed by a group of teachers interested in discovering how writing should and should not be taught. Through self-research, teachers gained insight into how they had learned to write and how they could best help their students become competent, confident writers. (DF)

Describes a summer writing workshop conducted by author Jake MacDonald for a group of secondary school students. (DF)

A classroom technique for second language writing instruction is described that combines encouragement for writing with error awareness and correction skills, active composition problem-solving, and peer correction. (MSE)