Examines several variables that may interact to affect the success of writing in science courses and provides some student views on these assignments. (PR)

Discusses how storytelling was used in a fifth-grade class as a tool for promoting literacy and language development by having children write and tell their own tales. Highlights the positive rewards for children. Includes suggestions and techniques for teachers to follow in their classrooms. (RS)

Presents a framework for third-grade writers and their partners called L.A.M.P. (Listening, Asking questions, Making suggestions, and Positive comments). Notes that the author uses this collaborative planning exercise periodically, not for every writing piece. (RS)

Describes two word games useful in secondary writing classrooms: "illot-mollo," in which freewriters announce words they just wrote which the other members must use in their subsequent freewriting; and "secret" in which students each write a secret (usually made-up) and then put them into a hat--students then pull out a secret and write about it.…

Discusses ways to evaluate students' photographs, offering descriptions from a number of professors and professionals of their approaches. Includes an evaluation exercise, a photo assignment sheet, and three critique or grade sheets outlining criteria for photo evaluation. (SR)

Describes a writing assignment in which students read only the first two paragraphs of Charles Dickens's novel "A Tale of Two Cities" and then, after some brainstorming and prewriting, write a paragraph or two modeled on those, explaining the confusion and turmoil of the present day. Notes how Dickens's expressions become more familiar…

Presents a transcript of a panel discussion at Colgate University in which people in various professions spoke about their writing experiences in school and on the job. Notes that these stories told by professionals about their writing experiences can be seen as part of an institutional history and part of a disciplinary history. (RS)

Discusses two intriguing ways of explaining error in student writing--the work of Michel Foucault and the work of Roland Barthes. Describes in-class activities and essay assignments that use these perspectives to help students to reach improved understanding of error in writing. (SR)

Describes an assignment in which students write a letter of complaint, and discusses how this assignment aids students in seeing the importance of effective written communication to their daily lives. (SR)

Presents five activities: (1) transforming--requires that a student put aside a first draft and create a new piece on the same subject in a different genre; (2) meaningless words--encourages deleting unnecessary words; (3) group work; (4) definitions quiz; and (5) audience, synthesis, and the thematic analysis--considering these three when writing…

Describes how to present a good image of the school library media center at the beginning of the school year. Highlights include coming in earlier than the teachers or students to set up displays and present an organized image, library instruction coordinated with English classes, and sample questions for orientation assignments. (LRW)

A popular author of young-adult fiction offers suggestions for teachers and students who want to write to authors and receive replies. Discusses how to organize letters from entire classes and student motivations for writing, and includes humorous examples of student correspondence. (LRW)

Describes a "build-the-box" lesson to develop a better understanding of writing useful and effective instructions. Considers how the lack of instruction with this assignment compels students to think creatively to complete the project. Concludes that many students realize the difficulty in creating easy-to-understand instructions. Enhances the…

Describes an extended writing assignment used in a business communication class that combines a case study and original student research, thus defining a realistic business situation needing action and requiring students to research a business situation and apply the findings from their research to decide exactly what course of action is…

Claims personal narrative essays, although controversial, touch a unique chord in listeners and in readers. Suggest incorporating critical thinking and modeling by the instructor into personal narrative essay assignments. (NH)