This paper examines how writing samples produced by middle school students reveal their emerging academic identities through their rhetorical choices in writing. Analyses of two texts produced by each student revealed students' implicit understandings of the requirements of academic voice. Through comparisons of each student's texts, strategies…

This study compares and contrasts the selection and distribution of literary texts in the English programs of two diverse secondary schools, one in Massachusetts, USA, the other in Ontario, Canada. Analysis of the departments' curriculum documents, state/provincial curriculum policies, and teacher interviews indicated that at both schools,…

Reports on a study of the oral and written English syntax of both Gaelic/English bilingual and English monolingual fourth- and ninth-grade students on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland. Concludes that the use of English syntax by bilingual speakers was equal to or (in one measure) superior to that of monolingual speakers. (ET)

Compares nine beginning textbooks for use in teaching English as a foreign language on the basis of their treatment of negation in English. (DD)

The results of a creative writing survey among sixth grade disadvantaged pupils indicate that conventional test scores help identify given levels of developed skills, and such skills are related to effective writing. (Author/NL)

Reports on the findings of a study that examined the persuasive written texts of 60 university first-year composition students, half of whom were native speakers of English and half of whom were nonnative English speakers. Considers 33 variables between the 2 subgroups. Finds clear differences. Discusses results and implications for…

Compares the written production of 12 sixth grade English-as-a-second-language (ESL) students on 3 teacher-assigned tasks with their writing to the teacher in dialogue journals. Finds that the quantity and maturity of the dialogue journal writing was at least equivalent to the assigned writing on all measures. (RS)