Assessment and evaluation have always been an integral part of educational process. Quality and purposeful assessment can assist in students' learning and their achievement. While there has been a rapid growth in international, standardized student assessments in the past few decades, a large number of education systems participating in these…

Purpose: The literature evidences the effects of communication apprehension (CA), defined as the level of fear and anxiety associated with either real or anticipated communication, on educational efforts and suggests that (via the perceived desirability of certain professions) it could affect vocational choices. The purpose of this paper is to…

This study investigated the effect of cooperative learning on writing anxiety alleviation through a pre-test/post-test assessment. 120 EFL learners from a Chinese polytechnic institute were assigned into two groups: one experimental (cooperative writing) and the other comparison (solitary writing). Results revealed that cooperative learning…

Research, scholarship and publication are central to the work of higher education. However, even academics with the necessary research and writing skills can struggle to publish as often as they would like. Research suggests that a writing retreat is one solution; there is a process going on there that addresses the problem, but how it does so has…

Presents findings of a descriptive study designed to compare instances of writer's block in English and Spanish, among and within three groups of bilingual writers. Tries to determine if the same writing factors stymie both the novice bilingual writer and the practiced bilingual writer. Suggests ways to lessen writing apprehension. (RAE)

Employs factor analysis and comparability analysis to investigate the impact of item order on the number of factors and the underlying factor structure stability of the writing apprehension construct of the 1975 Daly and Miller scale. Finds that the randomized item factor structure was comparable with the original item order factor structure. (SR)

Provides an initial test of a multidimensional model of written communication apprehension as the construct relates to syntactic language use. Finds support for a multidimensional model of writing apprehension and for the impact that syntactic choice has on an individual's perceptions of writing apprehension. (MS)

The use of self-hypnosis techniques to overcome barriers to writing freely is illustrated in the experiences of several writers who successfully used the method. (MSE)

Present excerpts of a fairy tale for adults entitled "The Secret of the Seventh Tower," indicating the presence of the neurolinguistic systems of representation used in its creation during the process of automatism (automatic writing). Notes that the model can facilitate the resolution of writer's block and enhance creative writing in…

Suggests that, although writing instructors cannot completely eliminate writing anxiety in students, they can create a positive environment and offer strategies that will help reduce students' fears and build confidence in their writing skills. (AEA)

Explores the role of computer anxiety, communication apprehension and writing apprehension in predicting future use of new communication technologies. Supports hypotheses about the relevance of computer anxiety and communication apprehension in predicting future technology use, but not those with regard to writing apprehension. Notes that past…

Describes several patterned language books useful in helping students overcome writing apprehension by supplying them with the form, so that all they have to do is provide the creative ideas. (RS)

According to data from 144 technical writing students, 16% had writing apprehension and 16% had test anxiety; only 3.5% had both. Gender and age predicted test anxiety but not writing apprehension. Number of composition classes predicted writing apprehension but not test anxiety. (SK)

Reveals the motivation for writing the book "Dispatches" (l977), based on Herr's experiences as a correspondent in Vietnam. Discusses the difficulties with writing the book as it tries to capture the experience, sympathize with the participants, and yet allow the reader to walk away from it in the end. (NH)

Presents an interview with Mike Rose. Explains the source of Rose's interest in the cognitive dimension of writing and how it affects his teaching particularly and classroom instruction generally. Discusses writer's block in terms of cognition. (NH)