Three studies suggest that students involved in observational activities increase the level of specificity in their writing after only 10 to 15 days of instruction and are judged to be more creative. (DD)

Presents exercises designed to make argument and discussion easier by situating them in institutional events where argument could be expected to happen: the governmental commission, the school board meeting, the congressional hearing. Shows how these imaginary places allow for creating three role play situations for different college classes. (PA)

Describes how a middle school librarian, initially dismayed at having the major constellations of the northern hemisphere painted on the school library ceiling, gradually found the painting to be a fine resource for mythology and astronomy, and eventually discovered it to be one enormous, fantastic, writing prompt. (SR)

A special education teacher describes how she used dialogue journals both to communicate with her emotionally disturbed students and improve the students' writing skills. An inset summarizes the research on dialogue journals. An analysis of topics written about by students including requests, feelings, hopes, family, school, peers, and wishes is…

Illustrates the elements of story structure (beginning, middle, and end) by discussing excerpts from children's literature. Provides an annotated bibliography of picture books for each element, elementary classroom activities, and writing exercises. (PEN)

Describes a program in which five children (ages 8-13), including two with profound deafness, were taught English using whole language strategies combined with mini lessons in grammatical structure. The lessons were reinforced with assigned written language practice for classwork and homework, which was incorporated into the students' journals.…

Highlights the power of writing in the mathematics curriculum. Discusses expository writing, journal writing, and metacognitive development. Presents writing samples that demonstrate the usefulness of writing exercises as an alternative tool for mathematics education. Concludes that writing can be a viable force both as a learning tool and as a…

Describes a series of exercises the author developed to help college writers identify wordiness, reword, and revise carefully. Notes that these lessons build from simple recognition and repair to writing a 100-word piece. Concludes that many students choose this series of assignments as their favorite semester activity and one that influences how…

Describes a two-week class activity in which students attempt an extended definition of an abstract word, working collaboratively and using the library's reference material extensively. Notes that students take careful notes on both the information and their search processes, and integrate the information into a mini-research paper detailing their…

Provides suggestions on various English instruction topics. Includes (1) "Argumentation Exercise," Hari Vishwanadha; (2) "How to Survive Developmental (or Any Other) English," Sally Russell; (3) "Reach Out to an Expert," Norma A. Register; (4) "Summary and Response Writing," Alec Valentine; (5) "The Living Journal," Blair Spencer Ray; and (6)…

Describes two experiments carried out with a class of foreign language learners in the Department of French studies at the University of Sydney. The first experiment involved keeping a learner's diary, and the second experiment focused on learner's self-assessment of their writing performances. (CB)

A study investigated the techniques used to generate and select topics for creative writing by professional writers, high school students with a specific interest in writing, high school students in above-average English classes, and students in average English classes. Sex differences are also examined. (MSE)

Presents results of a six-week research project in a creative writing class that focused on developing audience sensitivity among students. Describes three units combining social, rhetorical, and informational perspectives. Concludes that a sequential approach seems to increase audience sensitivity among students. (KEH)

Describes a research paper assignment in which students choose a controversial news event reported by six to eight newspapers and arrive at a thesis by comparing the accounts. Notes that students become truly engaged with the assignment and that engagement shows itself strongly in the intelligence and life of the papers. (RS)

Describes a classroom activity in which a group of five students compose an essay together which meets the following academic objectives: (1) awareness of what constitutes a thesis; (2) understanding of evidence which can be used to support such a thesis; and (3) a conception of a conventionally developed five-paragraph essay. (RAE)