The purpose of the DESK (Developing English Skills and Knowledge) Program at Louisiana State University (LSU) is to help deaf and hard of hearing students make a smooth transition from high school to postsecondary institutions and, in doing so, to ensure their academic and professional success. This handbook documents, in a "how-to"…

Describes an experimental Young Author's conference for secondary school students. Notes that bringing together young writers and professional authors provides incentive for writing, as well as an authentic audience and purpose. (RS)

Describes Colgate University's Interdisciplinary Writing Program which hires teachers of composition from the fields of English, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. Describes historical reasons for developing the program, benefits accrued, problems entailed, and recommendations for others wishing to develop similar programs. (RS)

Describes a one-day Exemplary Writers' Workshop designed to recognize the writing products of secondary students. Lists workshop goals: providing students with opportunities to interact with professional writers; letting students interact with higher education faculty; and providing students with information about becoming a published writer. (RS)

Discusses how James Gray, founder of the Bay Area Writing Project and later the National Writing Project, began with a simple idea--successful teachers are the best teachers of teachers. Describes how James Gray laid a foundation for what has become a national network with 175 sites across the nation, providing a professional home for thousands of…

Describes a program at Arizona State University in which community college faculty were invited to teach basic writing at the university. Reviews the problems encountered in developing the program, and suggests how most of the problems can be avoided. Argues that this approach to basic writing is "disturbing." (RS)

This report documents the Hawaii Writing Assessment, which was undertaken to identify the writing strengths and weaknesses of Hawaii's public school children in kindergarten through grade twelve and to provide a basis for improvement in curriculum and instruction. The two sections of the report contain an overview of the assessment effort and…

Explains that the writing center is a computerized tutoring room where high school students can get individualized help with their writing. Describes some of the activities and problems of one such center. Suggests that the center can help students learn to be good writers and become more familiar with computer technology. (SG)

The use of word processing as an instructional tool is the focus of this monograph. The introductory section provides an overview of word processing and its use in higher education, while the second section explores the use of word processing in writing courses, including word processing for basic writers and learning disabled students, word…

An inservice course on the teaching of writing was designed to provide a content within which reflection and learning could occur. The course began with a week-long period of study and discussion of theories of language, with particular emphasis on the development of writing abilities, and a consideration of the implications of such theories for…

Discusses the advantages of making the writing center part of the instructional media center in schools and provides some questions to consider in setting up a writing center. Offers three examples of popular writing assignments. (MG)

Recounts the story of how the writing faculty at Washington State University successfully reclaimed their university's writing assessment program. Argues that writing teachers should be leery of assessment programs made by others, and should create their own assessment tools. (HB)

Intended for content area teachers and faculty, this booklet provides a coherent program for building a school-wide composition curriculum. The first section contains an explanation of the program and its background, including sequence and classroom processes. The major portion of the booklet is divided into three groups of assignments. Group one…

Provides strategies designed to help both mainstream and underrepresented students meet the rhetorical demands of placement exams and gain control in these situations. Describes the University of California Santa Barbara's Preparatory Program which serves a large, culturally diverse student population, acknowledges the variables embedded in the…

Board members can initiate three strategies to improve writing instruction: (1) an inservice program in writing instruction; (2) a new staffing pattern that includes hiring writing specialists; and (3) achievement tests to measure program success. Describes several successful writing projects. (MLF)