Social studies educators who applaud discourse-based approaches may benefit by adding research on argumentation to their conceptual toolkit. We make the case here for its value, in particular emphasizing that argumentation skill needs to develop, suggesting an apprenticeship model of this development and highlighting evidence supporting it.

The language of science, which emphasizes reasoning about the causes and conditions of scientific phenomenon and use of visuals to convey information, can be difficult for young readers and writers without a lot of teacher scaffolding (Pappas and Varelas 2009). It is important that teachers understand these linguistic requirements to support…

The purpose of this article is to describe Discourse Time (D.T.), a teaching practice that aims to integrate argumentative literacy, the third piece of the literacy puzzle, into math learning environments. Snapshots from a tenth grade classroom at Skyview Academy High School in Thornton, Colorado is used to paint a vivid picture of what D.T. looks…

Outlines a collaborative writing exercise designed to help students develop position statements for persuasive essays. Notes that this exercise helps students adopt the discursive style and language of the academic community, as well as develop reader-based arguments. (MM)

This booklet describes the ideas underpinning a learning to learn course, a course that teaches students what they need to learn to read and write in tertiary academic settings in Australia. An introduction explains how this approach to academic discourse draws on other approaches and also differs from them. Section 1 describes some forces shaping…

Examines relationships between critical thinking and writing. Compares a pencil-and-paper and computer-assisted versions of a process/model program to a traditional composition program. Reports experimental groups showed greater argumentative powers. Extends approach to poetry and technical writing. Suggests collaborative learning potential.…

This text tries to explain what students need to learn to read and write in tertiary academic settings in Australia and to suggest some ways of teaching them. An introduction maps out what this text contains and summarizes the main features of the approach used to teach adults how to read and write academic discourse. The next section describes…

Intended for teachers of composition courses, this book provides twelve bibliographic essays covering various aspects of composition studies. The list of essays are as follows: (1) "Recent Developments in Rhetorical Invention" (Richard Young); (2) "Structure and Form in Non-Narrative Prose" (Richard L. Larson); (3)…