One goal of computer-based instruction in writing is to help students to edit their compositions, particularly those compositions written on a word processor. This can be accomplished by a complete editing program that would contain the full set of mechanics rules--capitalization, punctuation, spelling, usage--appropriate for the grade level of…

Teaching college writing students to edit the autobiographical writing of others has many advantages. Autobiographical materials, such as diaries, letters, or journals, are physically and psychologically accessible for students, and as editors they would be obliged to keep in mind appropriateness of language, tone, and simplicity or complexity of…

One teaching approach for basic writing students is to have them transcribe their inner speech--of matching their oral language to written language. (HOD)

This guide to the Georgia Middle Grades Writing Assessment (MGWA) serves the purpose of improving writing and writing instruction. It includes a description of test administration conditions, a sample test booklet, and a structured overview of the writing assessment. Prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading are explained in the…

Presents a comprehensive picture of the shapers of a published nonnative speaker research article by including the language professionals and indicating how they fit into the pre-publication processing of a text. (Author/VWL)

Summarizes Stephen Krashen's work on second language acquisition (involving the distinction between language acquisition and language learning). Discusses several techniques for teaching "Edited American English" in light of Krashen's theory, including error-based exercises and guided editing. Indicates which techniques help or impede…

Students in three fifth grade classes were pretested on identification and correction of errors in written composition. Instruction on revision was provided to instructional groups differing only in tools used for editing: paper and pencil, word processing, or a combination. Attitude questionnaire and posttest results indicated less positive…

This article discusses several ways that Web sites and e-mail motivate students to write. When students know someone other than their teacher will see their writing, it becomes easy to help them with process and mechanics. They take pride in their work, and they make it look good. The author found that students were more receptive to a revision…

State academic standards broadly support the writing process, including the planning (prewriting), drafting, revising, editing, and publishing (sharing) stages. There is also widespread recognition that a valuable part of the process is conferencing, either between teacher and student, student and student (often referred to as peer feedback), or…

To elicit some written comments about student views of revision, an English professor surveyed about 100 students in several different composition classes regarding what they would do if given the opportunity to revise a class paper. More than 80% of the responses explicitly mentioned errors in spelling, mechanics, or grammar. Several students…

Aimed at media professionals, students, and all others interested in better writing, this booklet is intended to share the wisdom on editing and writing distilled from the experience and thinking of the Associated Press Institute (API) staff and seminar attendees. Following an introduction, the booklet's first section--on writing--presents:…

Writing problems common among many college students are "phrasal" errors such as limited vocabulary, inability to distinguish standard usage from slang or jargon, a tendency to frame thoughts in cliches, a peppering of meaningless intensifiers, and a gift for redundancy and wordiness. To help correct these problems, a text-checking system called…

Suggests techniques for the efficient use of one word processor among many students by dividing the writing process into stages of prewriting, writing, editing, and publishing. Examples of exercises and evaluations, a guide to producing a book, and a list of publications that accept children's writing are provided. (CLB)

Analyzes the editing behavior of skilled and less skilled writers. Results show that while the more skilled writers almost always corrected more errors than the less skilled, the two groups performed similarly on their own essays where neither corrected many errors at all. (SRT)

Surveys and critiques what has been written about style checkers and text-editing capabilities of the computer to assist in revising technical writing. Finds the literature inconclusive largely because it is anecdotal and methodologically flawed. Suggests a new research agenda and focus. (KEH)