Rereading the history of basic writing can serve as a context for and a springboard to a reading of selected contemporary basic writing textbooks. For critical scrutiny, articles by Joseph Harris and David Bartholomae offer retellings of the history of basic writing, retellings that challenge the more "heroic" tellings that have become…

Examines the effects of written retelling on ESL (English-as-a- Second-Language) students' writing skills. Suggests that written retelling can help ESL students build their linguistic foundations, learn about mainstream culture, and develop awareness of conventional English rhetorical structures. Indicates that written retelling improved student…

Discusses a study of the effects of first year composition students' use of a microcomputer as a word processor on the quality of their writing. Compares students who used the word processor with those who hand wrote their compositions, revealing greater improvement among the word processing group, regardless of initial skill levels. (PAA)

Describes a study of changes in attitudes and writing performance of learning-disabled (LD) college students resulting from a mainstream writing class employing a workshop format and microcomputer word processors. The LD students' performance level was consistent with the non-LD students in the class, and their writing attitudes improved. (DMM)

Reviews the history of writing across the curriculum programs and examines two instructional orientations, the general writing approach, which views writing as a unique tool for consolidating learning; and the discipline-specific approach, which focuses on the function or social purposes for writing. (DMM)

Uses Clark and Trow's schema for differentiating collegiate, vocational, academic, and nonconformist peer cultures to classify basic writers' areas of commitment and attachment. Suggests ways that students can be grouped to work at translating non-Standard English so that it can be better understood by other cultures. (DMM)

Describes the design and implementation of a developmental English course for community college students still not performing at college level after a semester of remedial work. Discusses the theoretical background of the curriculum, book selection criteria, the course reading list, and classroom activities used to increase motivation and…

Identifies traits associated with conditionally admitted students that differentiate them from the total freshmen population, establishes characteristics associated with the most and least successful students in the developmental writing classes, and then uses the findings to better serve students in all components of the developmental program.…

The relationship between the frequency of African-American English (AAE) features used by African-American adolescent males (n = 16) and their performance on the seven clusters comprising the "Woodcock Language Proficiency Battery-Revised" (WLPB-R) was investigated. All participants were between the ages of 15 and 19 years who had a…

Argues that writing is a social practice, and as such, student writing should be thought of as part of the larger society. Reports on responses from 393 (over 50% of those solicited) students in developmental writing courses, which indicate that students want to feel they have a stake in their own learning. (Contains 26 references.) (NB)

Describes the use of local area networks (LANs) in basic college composition instruction. Offers examples of interchanges between student writers and peers reacting to compositions. Argues for freer student use of classroom networks in open discourse, as excessive limits on network use eviscerate its potential. (SG)

Theorizing that college is a cross-cultural experience for all students and faculty, examines students' experiences in completing a psychology paper and explores the ways a Psychology Writing Lab (PWL) served as mediator for instructor and student. Indicates that students in the PWL procrastinated less, chose more appropriate articles, understood…

Describes a study conducted to investigate whether text-interactive instruction improved reading comprehension and writing performance of community college students enrolled in developmental reading courses. Students were taught to predict, infer, analyze, and evaluate while reading and to use their experiences and embedded textual cues to give…

Describes the Language across the Curriculum programs operating at Hostos Community College for English-as-a-Second-Language students; at Miami-Dade Community College for bilingual transfer students; and Dawson College for faculty. (DMM)

Describes the integrated skills reinforcement (ISR) approach to Language across the Curriculum used at La Guardia Community College (LCC) to teach basic skills within the context of the subject-content of various disciplines. Explains LCC's student-centered approach to faculty development, and the use of ISR as a basis for curricular,…