Describes several basic writing research projects that reported results in the 1990's. Discusses the role of gender, the needs of special student populations, the influence of technology, and the importance of various testing and teaching strategies in writing programs. (16 references) (MAB)

Examines the composing processes of basic writers, examining their tendencies toward writer's block, low-level goals, and writer-based prose. Suggests that basic writers be taught that the purpose of writing is to communicate with other people and that errors, revisions, and general messiness are part of the complicated process. (PAA)

Argues for teaching students to write leads that stress unusual story features and can be used as a peg to hang the rest of the story on. Recommends the use of student writing models, accounts by professional writers about lead writing, and instruction in the rhetorical strategy of contrast/dissonance. (PAA)

Describes various types of writing across the curriculum (WAC) programs and issues in program implementation, examines the implications of WAC programs for teaching basic writers, and outlines some instructional strategies that can be used by teachers to prepare basic writing students for participation in WAC programs. (PAA)

Reviews recent research concerning the use of computers in language arts instruction, reporting little impact on writing quality, but improvement in students' attitudes toward writing. Provides suggestions for effective computer use and warnings concerning their limitations and misuse in the teaching of basic writers. (DMM)

Describes the design, implementation, evaluation and outcomes of using writing across the curriculum in a package of composition, history, and environmental science courses offered to 50 developmental writers attending the University of Minnesota's General College. Writing was taught as a learning strategy related to critical thinking and content…

Examines research on the causes of writing apprehension. Profiles high-apprehensive writers, characterizes their written products, and describes their writing processes. Suggests four procedures for dealing with writing apprehension: peer group workshops; positive reinforcement; teaching about writing process, and gradually increasing students'…

Explains how the search feature available with most word processing programs can reinforce grammar and proofreading skills, helping students focus on grammatical agreement, comma usage, and sentence fragments. Discusses student responses to the technique. (DMM)

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 conducted to determine whether the relationships between reading and writing can serve as the basis of a functional pedagogy to improve the reading comprehension of academically underprepared college students. The study also examined the effects of integrated reading and writing instruction on students' skills and attitudes. (PAA)

Describes a six-week summer remedial writing program at the State University of New York at Buffalo, which utilized instructional approaches designed to accommodate students' learning styles. Results on pre- and posttests of essay-writing ability, sentence fluency, and attitudes toward writing revealed improvements in all areas following the…