The first of a two-part discussion of an experimental program involving small group teaching in a mixed-ability secondary English class in Scotland, this report outlines the class organization and management techniques used during the program. It also contains an account of the culminating class activity, a group novel-writing project. Six appendixes provide examples of student poetry, assignment cards, samples of writing based on the assignment cards, student-produced magazine stories, progress charts for the novel-writing project, and a copy of the completed novel. (FL)