A study examined the relationship of positive and negative evaluation statements to specific evaluation criteria, student characteristics, and type of writing. Subjects, 27 fifth-grade students, were asked to read samples of their own writing and writing attributed to a fictional peer. During tape-recorded interviews, the subjects were asked to…

An atypical and challenging writing assignment for courses in general or abnormal psychology is to ask the students to write a poem about the experience of mental illness. The format, length, and topic are left entirely up to the student. While shocked at first, students rose to the challenge after being told they would be judged on content and…

When English instructors functioning simultaneously as researchers study the reading and writing processes of their own students, it is important that they fully describe the context within which the study takes place and the effect that the dual instructional/research environment has on the participants, who are, similarly, functioning as both…

One hundred seventy-nine students enrolled in a first-year college level composition course were subjects in a study of the effects of four levels of audience specification on writing anxiety, performance, and sensitivity to audience. Subjects completed the Writing Apprehension Test, which determined levels of writing apprehension, and then…

Several administrative dimensions of a successful internship program in the English department of a four-year private college in Virginia are described in this paper. The paper begins by describing briefly the comprehensive internship program for juniors and seniors that was implemented with the help of a grant and under which six additional…

All incidents of crying that occurred in a preschool setting were recorded along with the responses of other children and teachers. After pilot observations had been carried out for 3 hours at each of 20 preschool and day care centers, detailed observations were made at a single site, four hours per day, twice a week, from late fall to mid-spring.…

Two hundred forty-five students in a basic speech making course were tested both before and after the course by the Rhetorical Sensitivity Scale (RHETSEN) and by their reactions to three hypothetical speech situations, to determine: (1) whether their rhetorical sensitivity scores would change after completion of such a course, and (2) whether…

Louise Rosenblatt's reader response theory can be applied effectively to film study in the classroom. Although there are differences between film and literature, the processes that one uses to make sense of literature and film are similar, and Rosenblatt's theory provides not only a valuable addition to film theory, but teachers of film study will…

This paper discusses ways in which problem-solving in social situations differs from and is more difficult than problem-solving in other areas. Some of these ways are that social situations are constantly changing, communication is frequently unclear, and strong emotions are often aroused. Problems related to evaluation are discussed as an example…

A study was conducted to explore student response to literature and the influence of classroom experiences on that response. Three novels were selected for study: "The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger, "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck, and "A Farewell to Arms" by Ernest Hemingway. Each of 54 freshman English students read one of the…

Discusses faculty and student attitudes to graduate student participation as student-faculty members in a counselor education program. Indicates several problems and concerns by both graduate students and faculty, and poses several questions for further study. (PC)

One hundred and eighty question-response diads were obtained from taped sessions of eleven elementary teachers interacting with a group of their students. (Editor)

A mountain park program for sixth-graders from Washington, D. C., is not only instructive but seems to kindle renewed zest for learning. (Editor)

Discusses the teaching of a junior level physical chemistry course with self-paced instruction to engineering and physical science students. Included are a description of topics and a summary of student responses. (CC)

Grade performances in a personalized instruction course are compared with those in traditionally-taught courses for students with good, average, and poor academic records. (Editor)