Demonstrates that business writers rely far more heavily than expected on classical figures of speech. Uses Aristotle's "Rhetoric" to show that figures of speech offer a powerful tool for the persuasive function of modern business communication. (PD)

Looks at research and practice in the area of idioms and offers suggestions for teaching them effectively. (FL)

Data indicate that the form of writing does affect both the kinds and the numbers of figurative language examples that will be found. Children do use all of the elements of figurative language, although there is no natural development of such language in grades 4 through 6. (JA)

Describes a method used in a Biblical literature course to help students discover and assimilate Biblical information through video tapes. (FL)

Presents results of a study of fifth-grade students' ability to interpret novel metaphors and similes when provided with a subschemata of semantic attributes. (AEA)

This study shows that variations in paralinguistic stress cues, based upon Chafe's given--new and contrastiveness notions, can also influence which frameworks subjects use in comprehending ambiguous passages. Educational implications of schematic-triggering phenomena are discussed. (Author/GK)

Subjects ranging in age from 7 to 12 years selected correct story completion alternatives significantly more often when these alternatives were similes than when they were semantically equivalent metaphors, and when alternatives specifically denoted the referent of the metaphorical comparison than when the identity of the referent had to be…

Describes the use of the proverb "a watched pot never boils" to help students make the relationship between literal statements and the reader's own experience. (MKM)

Reviews theory and research on the use and effectiveness of metaphors, analogies, and models as instructional tools. Concludes that the use of metaphors and other figurative devices promotes the acquisition of new knowledge. Suggests possible design and use of instructional metaphors. (FMW)

In a study of beliefs and construction of knowledge, undergraduate and graduate education students responded to open- ended statements and a list of similes describing what teachers, students, and classrooms were like. Results suggests that the simile list responses were valid reflections of the subjects' personal metaphors. (32 references)…

Analyzes parents' use of indirect requests and other types of figurative language (metaphor and idiom) addressed to their children. Finds that indirect requests occurred most frequently but that parents also used other nonliteral forms as well. Shows that parents were using the range of nonliteral forms primarily to achieve the single goal of…

Discusses using comics in high school and college writing and English classes to teach figurative language and other literary terms and techniques such as style and descriptive writing. Describes several activities and notes benefits of using comics in this way. (SR)

Aims for students to explore spontaneous ways of finding material for their poems by suppressing control over their subject matter and letting their unconscious minds do the work. Uses a poem of William Carlos Williams, "Red Wheelbarrow," both with K-2 students and adults in a poetry workshop. Illustrates class procedures and activities…