Recounts the experiences of one middle-aged community college English teacher who decided to go after a terminal degree. Considers the pros and cons of returning to graduate school for the doctorate degree. Describes how teacher training for graduate students might be improved. (HB)

Describes the activities of "The WONDER of Learning Program" of the National Writing Project. Shows how the program was designed to nurture first-grade teachers in seven retreat sessions in which the teachers studied and learned from each other about teaching approaches, methods, and activities. (HB)

Asks how religious faith and spirituality function in the creative lives of people as makers and searchers. Describes a week-long summer workshop called "Women's Space: Exploring Our Creative and Spiritual Selves." Considers the historical achievements of women as writers and thinkers, and the recent recovery of such work. (HB)

Describes the activities in a high school English class aimed at instructing students concerning the concept of "historical fiction." Outlines class activities in which students are asked to write fictional narratives based on the history of their local high school. (HB)

Describes how one English teacher developed an approach to teaching writing that pairs student writers with writers in the community outside the school. Outlines the features of this writing partners project, including the responsibilities of each partner. Argues that such programs foster writer skill and self-esteem. (HB)

Describes a collaborative reading and writing project matching preservice student teachers with eighth-grade students. Provides analysis of participant reactions to the program, including specific comments by both students and teachers about the readings and the subsequent writing assignments. (HB)

Provides a selected, annotated bibliography of research (published between 1990 and 1993) in the teaching of English. Presents the annotations under the broad categories of curriculum, language, literature, teacher education, and writing. (HB)

Considers the role of the writing center within the context of a large writing program. Describes how the adoption of a portfolio system of grading at the University of Southern California focused attention on this issue. Narrates the changes brought about by the adoption of a portfolio assessment system. (HB)

Reform of undergraduate education is sweeping the United States and the design of the writing major at Millikin University (Decatur, Illinois), is an example of this movement. The writing major was in need of reform because, in addition to the English major core of literature surveys, Shakespeare, and a course in the history of grammar and the…

This digest provides a historical review of some current literary theories and practices which developed from contemporary philosophy. Structuralism, associated with Ferdinand de Saussure and Claude Levi-Strauss, with a seemingly scientific view of language and culture posited a systemic "center" that organized and sustained an entire…

Understanding the absence of composition in western Canada is predicated upon understanding the presence of composition in the United States, the only country in the world with a highly visible tradition of composition. This absence in western Canada, between 1900 and 1950, is largely a matter of appearance--composition in both countries was an…

Representing current research and effective practice in English education, this book provides inservice and preservice teachers of English practical activities derived from sound educational theory and research to help make their job in the classroom effective and enjoyable. The book is meant to be an easy-to-read and useful source for teaching…

By limiting sentence combining to the arena of syntax and skills, an individual's own thinking is seriously constricted. Any linguistic act is simultaneously two games at once--an "inner game" of intention and strategy, and an "outer game" of actual performance. According to this formulation, all language events are intentional, purposeful, and…

Sentence combining can act as a corrective for the large number of language arts lessons and activities that emphasize errors. Based on familiar sentence patterns, sentence combining provides models of effective language use and encourages students to examine and try more expressive and interesting styles of speaking and writing. Sentence…

Since an increasing number of English teachers are being asked to find a place for computers in the English program, this monograph focuses on issues connected to this technology. The first article sets the stage with a discussion of the power and potential of the computer. Other articles focus on the following topics: (1) promises and…