Argues that the rigidity of the five paragraph theme actually dissuades students from practicing the rhetorical analysis necessary for them to become critical thinkers. Suggests that English teachers continue to teach the essay as a rhetorical form with three units, an introduction, a body, and a conclusion, which may consist of more than one…

Presents a case study, which attends closely to the 1941, 1946 version of the "Harbrace College Handbook" (HCH) and reads its exercises through a Foucauldian lens. Suggests that the exercises contained within the HCH discipline not only the student as writer, but also the student as thinker. (SC)

Describes a series of poetry workshops that connect poetry to the tangible world of nature, and also teaches students about the biology, ecology, and history of their area. Presents several old and middle English poems used in the workshop and discusses different translations and their relation to nature. (SC)

Notes that if students are able to publish, they are often more interested in engaging in the messy, challenging, rewarding process of writing. Describes experiences in writing letters to the editor and letters of appreciation or complaint. Concludes that through these experiences, students see how writing is powerful, accomplishes specific…

Describes a group pioneering the process of "professional" publication of students' writing called Chapbooks.com. Discusses the author's experience with Chapbooks.com and three other "testimonies" from different schools. Concludes with an appendix of frequently asked questions about the website. (SC)

Notes the difficulty in writing a newspaper column and gives several questions and responses to consider. Discusses what a column should do, how a column should be written, and questions to consider. Presents a sample page with an explanation of several different columns. (SC)

Investigates how secondary teachers' perceptions of portfolio implementation barriers changed when teachers participated in a 1-year portfolio implementation effort. Suggests that teachers' apprehension about portfolio barriers increased slightly, but that this increase can be attributable to teachers with little portfolio experience. (SC)

Suggests grammar checkers remain troublesome and inaccurate. Reviews the literature of grammar checker technology in composition. Analyzes the current grammar checking capability of the most popular word-processing programs in the United States, Microsoft 2000 and Corel 9.0 (2000). Concludes by suggesting uses of grammar checkers for composition…

Presents a statement of "professional concerns," to echo Jeanne Simpson's exploration of beginning a writing center. Presents the story of the author's first year as one way of reading the factors that both constrain and enable educators to reach levels of professional status that ensure security and stability, both for educators personally and…

Explores graphical, hypertextual, interactive elements of children's literature and compares them to the characteristics of writing taught in early elementary school. Finds mismatches between ways children are taught to write and the materials they are reading. Discusses finding places where early elementary writing instruction can be updated to…

Outlines detrimental effects of word processing in the composition classroom on planning, reading, organizing, revising, error detection, and spelling and vocabulary skill development. Discusses strategies instructors can use to teach students to use the computer at each stage of the writing process in ways that encourage and develop the…

Considers how journal writing is used in primary grades to support the emergent literacy skills of young children. Reviews the literature on journal writing. Compares first grade teachers' instructional practices and perceived benefits or disadvantages of journal writing. Provides evidence that first grade teachers in the school district are using…

Provides some basic suggestions to help teachers become politically aware and perhaps politically involved. Focuses on how to influence legislation at the state level; however, much of the advice is applicable to the national level as well. Gives reasons for becoming politically involved, where to begin, and for taking action. Notes how teachers…

Argues that both composition and literary studies have a common pedagogical vocation and that by harvesting some very general insights from two decades of cultural critique, English departments can develop curricula that will resolve a good deal of the conflict between literature and composition and improve instruction in both. (SC)

Notes that finding a way to integrate grading and responding in a manner that promotes learning through revision is one major challenge for composition instructors. Argues that instructors must find a way to shape their classrooms shifting the emphasis from "getting it right the first time," to learning to see writing as an activity that evolves…