Intended for teachers and supervisors, this guide offers a working knowledge of current approaches to the direct application of the computer to the classroom. The guide demonstrates the many ways in which English departments can use microcomputers to assist teachers in teaching middle school English critical thinking skills topics. The guide is divided into 77 topics (such as analogies, genre, dictionary skills, report writing, and sequencing details). The lesson plans for each topic not only support and enrich the teaching of the content of the curriculum but also encourage and improve student investigation. Provided in the guide are specially designed modules to train students for standardized writing and reading tests. Appendixes list: the Apple Picture Disks, the MS DOS Picture Disks, and a Glossary of Selected Critical Thinking Terms. Software Duplication Guidelines, Copying Public Domain Diskettes for MS DOS and the Apple II, tips on caring for your diskettes and sources to contact for more help are also attached. (MG)