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,…

In 1996, New Jersey's Hudson County Community College (HCCC) participated in the American Association of Community Colleges' Exploring America's Communities project, works to strengthen the teaching and learning of American history, literature, and culture at U.S. community colleges. The primary goal of HCCC's project was to provide reading…

Argues that few new techniques for teaching remedial writing courses work. Suggests that learning styles, a research-based teaching approach, has demonstrated statistically significant results. Explains that learning styles aims to provide learning strategies that are compatible with individual learners. Reports on two experiments conducted at an…

Describes a revised developmental study skills course offering integrated instruction in critical thinking, reading, and writing strategies. Daily journal writing, reading lessons, library research, and a final oral and written report led to higher motivation, comprehension, and thinking levels than experienced by previous years' students. (DMM)

Discusses barriers adult developmental-writing students face due to family, community, and work responsibilities. Explains how non-writing commitments affect the writing process, particularly by placing time constraints on students. Offers instructors classroom activities to help students contextualize their writing situations and to learn methods…

A study was undertaken at Willmar Community College (WCC), in Minnesota, to assess the effectiveness of the developmental writing program and to identify which demographic and educational characteristics predicted final grades in college-level English courses. The study sample included all students who enrolled at WCC during the 1992-93 academic…

Students from the ages of 13 or 14 onward need to know the "colours of words" which can let them live fully in the rainbow of life, thus eliminating student fears associated with written language and of being pawns of those who have the power of words, especially written words. Colour coding the eight basic types of work that words can…

Using cooperative learning techniques in writing classes requires the instructor to plan carefully and respond spontaneously to the assignment as students work through it. Steps using the techniques successfully include: (1) developing academic objectives for each step in the writing process (i.e., prewriting, drafting, revising, and proofreading…

Discusses role and trend information on developmental or remedial education for recent high school graduates attending Washington community and technical colleges. More specifically, it provides information on high school graduates who attended a community or technical college in the year following graduation. Also provides separate information on…

Offers an annotated bibliography of ERIC documents and journal articles on writing across the curriculum, including those providing background information, describing different types of programs, offering guidance on generating writing assignments, and promoting faculty participation. (DMM)

Summarizes the literature on developmental reading and writing programs by discussing strategies for addressing remedial needs and obstacles to remediation. Presents the results of internal evaluations of developmental reading programs conducted at four colleges. Defines 16 strategies used by community colleges to implement effective remedial…

In 1996, Indian Hills Community College (Iowa) participated in the American Association of Community Colleges' Exploring America's Communities project, which works to strengthen the instruction of American history, literature, and culture at U.S. community colleges. The college's action plan was initially comprised of three parts: (1) establishing…

A study investigated whether exercises that teach and alert students to nonverbal communication aided them, particularly those students who needed more support in achieving academic success in written expression. Subjects were students in two classes of a basic composition course required in an electronic technician program. One class was given…