This article defines research centers as associative enterprises for solving scholarly and societal problems that cannot be adequately addressed by individuals. The authors identify more than fifty research centers in rhetoric and writing, past and present, and argue that they function as change agents by emphasizing collaboration and conducting…

A study investigated the effects on second graders' writing due to their participation in an electronic mail letter exchange. Subjects were 14 second-grade students who participated in a project on Virginia's Public Education Network, where they corresponded with a person in the character of Winnie-the-Pooh. A pre-test/posttest design was used in…

A study sought to promote improved work among six at-risk students in a third-grade writing workshop in a central Virginia school by varying the standard workshop format: mini lesson followed by free writing. The approach was to replace mini-lessons with multi-sensory, hands-on experiences followed by brainstorming activities and evaluate how the…