Discusses the purpose and effects of collaborative writing in proposal development projects. Suggests how collaboration serves the larger social functions of the modern corporation. Discusses how the circumstances of proposal development affect collaboration. Describes storyboarding--a common and often highly effective tool for fostering…

Describes a collaborative classroom process that helps build cohesion among group members by placing all students into the roles of writer, reader, editor, and evaluator. Presents six teaching tips for the process. (RS)

Argues that the five-paragraph-essay structure is a valuable teaching tool but cautions that composition teachers need to ensure that their students don't perceive it as an end in itself. Illustrates how students can learn the principles of effective composition and apply them to any writing task by making necessary modifications. (KEH)

Discusses use of multimedia software in a Mt. Pleasant, Texas, elementary school, and asserts that the key to writing success is "postwriting", which means publication of the work in some form. Suggests online forums for the publication of children's writing, and provides brief descriptions of four online student publishers, including…

Explores the assumption that writing is a way to learn by examining the influence of task interpretation on writing and studying as learning aids. Finds that task interpretation and the nature of the material to be learned are important mediating variables in the relationship between writing and learning. (PRA)

Discusses some aspects and strategies of persuasion that might underlie any written persuasive business message. Focuses more on "Think about It" rather than "How-to." (KEH)

Describes a course in which students learn to write rich, accurate, precise, objective description, develop a sensitivity to honest, uninflated language, and demonstrate these skills by producing an action proposal. Describes the three sections of the course: objective description, lessons in language, and grand proposals. (PRA)

An instructional method called Transformation-Based Writing is presented that encourages second graders to engage in writing strategies that are typically more advanced. The method begins with writers establishing goals centering on content and genre and achieving the goals through iterative application of problem-solving operations. (Author/JDD)

Describes how learning of important strategies in reading and writing is fostered by organizing instruction so that students benefit from both teacher-led and student-led instruction. Discusses text choices, integrating reading and writing with strategy instruction, the teacher-led shared-text pattern, and the student-selected singular text…

Describes the Thesis Analysis and Synthesis Key (TASK), a strategy which helps high school and college students to think through the elements of an argumentative essay, and to write more convincing arguments themselves. (SR)

Describes an experimental computer program called the "Writing Environment" designed to help writers create well-structured texts on-screen. Outlines a study done in which writers were asked to use the program so that their writing strategies could then be analyzed. Provides data and conclusions of the study. (HB)

Offers six prompts to use in teaching creative writing at the high school level. Explains how the prompts are used in the classroom. (MG)

Describes the self-monitoring technique, where English-as-a-Second-Language students annotate their writing drafts with comments on their specific writing problems, allowing teachers to provide direct and appropriate feedback. This feedback facilitates teachers' understanding of writers' problems and intentions and allows writers more control over…

The process approach to writing requires feedback. Peer feedback (which can be encouraged and taught) and teacher feedback are complementary; they should discuss both form and content of students' written work. Spoken teacher feedback on tape and student-teacher conferences (whether individual or group) augment the teacher's usual feedback…

Students who have trouble starting to write can create collage images from textured papers to inspire story ideas and written text. Some students may invent a plot first then illustrate it. Others may let textured paper influence their writing. The article describes the process and explains how to make textured paper. (SM)