Ease or difficulty of learning simplified and complex Chinese characters is examined in terms of recognition and reproduction. Empirical observations and careful studies of errors in learning situations lead to the conclusion that complex characters are harder to learn. Teaching of Chinese characters therefore should proceed from simplified to…

Recommends the resourceful, well-planned utilization of carefully selected current news stories from sophisticated publications to enrich the content of remedial writing classes. Presents three sample cases in which news items become the basis for the exploration of major social and ethical concerns. (DMM)

Describes a teaching technique designed to help students understand how and why technical writing works. Students study journal articles by answering lists of questions focusing on unity, coherency, definitions, illustrations, and documentation, then apply principles they learned through the exercise to preparing an informative report. (SKC)

Examines various definitions and pedagogies of critical thinking. Discusses the writing center's role in teaching critical thinking. (MM)

Suggests a set of sequenced writing assignments based on language use. Argues that language study involves learning how to observe as much as observing something particular. (MS)

Describes a strategy whereby teachers allow students to determine the standards by which their writing will be judged, and, in doing so, convince students to share their beliefs about good writing. (ARH)

Offers four steps to broaden students' thinking by questioning the "facts" from cases or problems. Claims the assignment helps students understand the process of dissecting the parts of a problem, researching the alternatives, writing a factual report, and orally presenting recommendations. (MS)

Discusses how the development of critical thinking skills is inhibited in many students because they under-conceptualize the context in which controversy occurs. Suggests ways to raise students' awareness of being involved in a continuing debate, such as using written dialogue as a basis for extending a writing assignment that combines exposition,…

Examined the number and types of classroom writing experiences in which elementary teachers and children in grades one, three, and five were engaged. Two major influences on instructional practices also were analyzed: teachers' perceptions of writing instruction and textbook guidelines. (DST)

Presents an exercise in which students must write five broadcast leads from five of the major newspaper stories reported on the day they were born. (HTH)

Provides a collection of 11 activities, which when used together, result in a creative biographic book report. Each activity results in one or more pages of the finished report. Among the ideas presented are: (1) an advertisement activity, (2) a life line activity, and (3) a T-shirt activity. Includes illustrations and student instructions. (JDH)

Provides descriptions of courses offered at various colleges in the following areas: (1) improvement of technical communication; (2) technology and technical communication; (3) technical communication of scientific material; and (4) media for technical communication. Offers these descriptions as a means for creating technical writing assignments.…

Suggests having students write letters of inquiry to companies as a practical way to research a specific area and then write for a specific audience. Argues the benefits of this assignment, such as increased student motivation when writing for a real audience rather than a teacher. (SRT)

Describes an assignment for which students must respond in 20 minutes to a memo from their teacher announcing that their class projects are due a week earlier than previously announced. Argues that students learn about the real conditions of memo writing through this exercise. (SRT)

Suggests teaching characterization in literature classes by having students write an advertisement similar to the Dewar's scotch advertisement, based on each of the characters in the novel "Ordinary People." Examples are included. (HTH)