Considers how over 10 years of teaching first-year composition, more than two-thirds of the authors' students have elected to write about things that have caused them sorrow, about the deaths of loved ones, about the deaths of neighbors, even of hope itself. Composes a set of "meditations" - brief essays in which the authors try to understand…

Suggest that investigating the lives of other people expands students' knowledge about themselves, others, and the world while developing and refining literacy skills. Proposes that biography study addresses the language arts standards. Explains two activities that employ biography study, called "biography expense accounts" and "link-up." (PM)

To make workshop content valuable, it must be applied. Activities and assignments before, during, and after the workshop help ensure transfer of learning. (JOW)

Describes several writing activities in a writing program for fourth and fifth grade students using stimuli from the media. Notes that each theme was designed to increase students' ability to create original compositions from familiar material (such as advertisements and magazine photographs) using persuasive, narrative, or descriptive techniques.…

Describes a successful use of portfolios to assess the development of eleventh grade students' writing skills by inviting self-reflection and encouraging students to assume control over their writing. (KEH)

Outlines a set of terms which can be used (in sequencing writing assignments from simple to complex) to make distinctions between kinds of sequences and notions of complexity. Shows how these terms allow teachers to understand the logic of various sequences, compare and contrast related sequences, and evaluate the concept of assignment sequence.…

Argues the need for additional experience in language for social action in contexts where English teachers can provide scaffolding, monitoring and intervention. Concludes that students must have experiences in real writing contexts that lead them to face the linguistic and other demands which will enable them to develop the competencies they need.…

Describes a poster assignment developed by the teaching assistants at the University of Washington (Seattle) for use in introductory geography courses. Discusses the purpose, design, implementation and value of the exercise in the instruction and promotion of geography. (Author/LS)

Examines Madeline Hunter's "model" of teaching and compares it to other models. The model involves a sequential arrangement of seven steps: (1) anticipatory set; (2) objective and purpose; (3) input; (4) modeling; (5) checking for understanding; (6) guided practice; and (7) independent practice. Provides reason for and examples of each…

Argues that basic writing teachers should think of their students as seekers who are coming from different places and going different directions, each carrying different burdens and needing different tools. Presents a series of writing assignments using the process approach to writing. (RS)

Investigates the effects of cognitive mapping on written summarization and comprehension of expository text. Concludes that mapping appears to assist students in: (1) developing procedural knowledge resulting in more effective written summarization and (2) identifying and using supporting details in their essays. (MG)

Results are reported from a study, involving 35 female undergraduates, which examined the correlation between the health of the students, as measured by self-reported incidence of illness and directly observable physiological (blood pressure) measures, and the frequency and perceived stress of examinations and assignments. (IAH)

Environmental science articles submitted for extra credit by 281 of 677 students in introductory ecology courses were examined to find what types of magazines were used, the range of topics, and which type of student responded. (MKR)

Finds that case assignments used in a college business composition course generally produced more effective writing products than did traditional model assignments. Suggests that the writing processes and attitudes involved in the case assignments were highly sensitive to audience and context, whereas those involved in the traditional assignments…

Describes an exercise designed for K-6 grade levels based on books where the characters undergo transformation. Explains that students should write a story in which the main character goes through a transformation, and then act out the story. Emphasizes that younger students may not pay attention to the "why" or "how" of the…