The research purpose was to identify (1) the problems encountered by academic and administrative staff in emails received from students, (2) positive and negative qualities of the authentic emails of higher education students, (3) functional explanations of the academic email, (4) the problems encountered by students in emails received from…

This IPP combines a literature review and a materials development project. The literature review outlines and supports the approach taken throughout the curriculum and the materials that were developed. First, it lays out the nature of Turkish universities' ELPPs [English Language Preparatory Programs]; then, it deals with the basic philosophy of…

Concern exists among both academics and employers regarding the quality of graduates' writing. The complaint, as it is most commonly phrased, is that young graduates can no longer "string a simple sentence together". If true, this is a problem: the quality of students' writing seriously affects their chances in the job market. In this…

For the forty-first time, the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) is sponsoring the publication of these Proceedings. Papers published in this volume were presented at the annual AECT Convention in Kansas City, Missouri. The Proceedings of AECT's Convention are published in two volumes. Volume 1 contains twenty-seven…

To assist journalism educators in the development of spelling-grammar-punctuation examinations for their students, this paper traces the development of such an exam at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Descriptions of exam construction, administrative procedures, suggestions for exam improvement, and preliminary exam results are…

Argues that composition teachers should accept as little blame as possible for students' errors in using the apostrophe, that a large chunk of the blame should be assigned to workbooks with oversimple rules, and that basic writers have more important things to worry about. (RS)

Suggests a system for teaching punctuation, in which the independent clause is recognized as the fundamental building block of all language. Maintains that punctuation is not based on rules but on principles governing the relationship between one independent clause and the next. (TB)

In this paper, the author explains the simplification of a theory of punctuation for college-level instruction. He describes a systematization of the punctuation marks that has pedagogical possibilities. He concludes by stressing that the notion of a hierarchy of punctuation marks is not a difficult one for college students; after all, the…

Considers the conventions of quotation marks--or "perverted commas"--and identifies seven uses, including shudder quotes (slang or inappropriate words) and scare quotes (used for attention or emphasis). Notes that quotation marks influence meaning and that finding a personal voice entails using language without quotes. (MM)

This comprehensive and innovative style manual has been designed to be clear and jargon-free, to serve as an alternative to the often confusing style manuals of years gone by. The manual is intended for use by students, professionals, and writers at any level. The manual, created by an expert in linguistics and lexicography, provides: (1) an A to…

Missing apostrophes, misplaced apostrophes, and unnecessary apostrophes are all common occurrences in many forms of written American English. The fact is there is no adequate explanation--in traditional grammar or in any other grammar--that accounts for all the functions and transformations that grammarians have crowded under the heading of the…

Characters in this short play, designed to interest students in learning about punctuation, are punctuation marks. (MKM)

Suggests that college remedial English courses should deal with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and coherence by means of reading aloud, dictation, and imitation. (DD)

Discusses techniques for teaching advanced writers to use punctuation to create rhetorical effects. (MS)

Suggests the use of a chart to help students learn to use apostrophes correctly. (TJ)