Suggests that certain kinds of writing assignments encourage children to engage in writing at a higher than usual level of syntactic complexity. (DD)

Describes a writing assignment in which students write an essay employing lexical, etymological, and connotative definitions. (SR)

Weddings are unique and dynamic--each flavored differently and each with a life of its own. They celebrate specific customs, rituals, and the importance of family and culture. Always, they stir up emotions, and, on occasion, they may spin and whirl, looping out of control. For children, they may inspire romantic dreams, and provide new roles to…

Even students who are successful readers and writers in the early grades can struggle with demanding texts and writing assignments in secondary schools. But with the leadership plan and action steps in this book, you can continue to build on students' literacy skills and intervene with students who falter. Explore ways to connect literacy…

On the premise that a variety of reading and writing activities will help students develop their thinking skills, this paper offers seven class activities intended to encourage the development of formal and advanced thinking in junior and senior high school students. The activities, intended as basic activities which teachers can adapt to their…

Presents a five-day study unit that provides positive and negative views of Columbus' voyages. Explains that lessons include reading and writing assignments culminating in a debate of the implications of the Columbian legacy. Offers questions designed to prompt students to defend their views on Columbus. Identifies instructional objectives and…

Argues that the perennial problem of boring student writing is solved when assignments provide writers with target readers, enabling students to find their appropriate voice. Discusses a sample assignment in which students explain how to do something they do well to readers who don't know how to do it. (JG)

A flexible, point contract system is described which maximizes the advantages of a criterion-referenced contract system while eliminating some of the disadvantages of standard grade contracts. This model has been used by the author in a variety of high school and college courses. (Author/SJL)

Notes that business communication courses should include basic machine dictation training. Lists advantages of machine dictation over other methods and gives an example of a unit outline for training students. Provides two exercises and a form for evaluating dictation. (TJ)

Suggests ways of developing student skills in writing letters of request. (RL)

Presents a teacher's journal entries for poetry classes she conducted for fourth and fifth graders at Anthony Chabot Elementary School in Oakland, California, located in a middle class neighborhood with an ethnic mix of students. Describes two poetry writing ideas: "What Matters" and "100 Words." (PA)

Looks at writing as a dialectical affair--"dialectic" refers both to the dialogical nature of writing and the opportunity it opens up for the writer in coming to a new understanding of the subject matter. Uses H. Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics as a starting point for developing writing as a dialectical process. (PA)

Uses "Black Misery," a picture book that shines a spotlight on 27 humiliating moments of childhood. Begins by reading the text and discussing the pictures and captions; then asks students to write a minimum of five captions in a manageable amount of time. Concludes by having students read their captions aloud and engage in more…

A management class assignment requires students to study the history and complexity of one acre of land. The intent is to develop connections between the natural environment and human acts of management, focusing on the concept of privilege. (Contains 15 references.) (SK)

Presents a list of 49 ideas for teaching Shakespeare. Gives these ideas mostly in the form of writing assignments for the students. (SG)