Explores fifth graders' audience awareness when they compose and revise an original text for two audiences (a good third grade reader and an experienced adult reader) in a realistic transactional writing task. Finds that they successfully revised texts to address expectations of both audiences but were more successful for the third grade readers.…

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)

Addresses the problem of oversimplification among basic writers. Investigates the strategies and assumptions of basic writers in moving to oversimplify their writing. Presents case studies involving basic writers and analyzes them to determine the causes of oversimplification. (HB)

Examines the functions of outlining for 122 students in 4 undergraduate classes, each in a different discipline. Finds that outlining functions varied widely according to the assignment and the teacher's guidance. Identifies five functions of outlining. Suggests the benefits of examining a specific writing strategy rather than concentrating only…

Children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at increased risk of academic difficulties and special education placement (Barkley, 1998). One academic area, written expression, has received little research attention. This study assessed the effectiveness of a validated strategy instruction model--Self-Regulated Strategy…

Reports observations made to explore sixth grade students' changing awareness of the characteristics of text, self as reader and writer, and monitoring strategies during the reading and writing of narrative and expository text. (SR)

Studies the speech act strategies of indirectness in professional letter writing through an analysis of statements which were evaluated by college seniors. Discusses indirectness strategies from the perspectives of (1) value index; (2) writer/addressee orientation; (3) linguistic characterization; and (4) location within sentences. Suggests that…

Finds that major differences of opinion exist between students and teachers with regard to the report-writing process. Notes classroom strategies that create congruent perceptions of the task. (SR)

Asks college-level seniors in a business communication class which activities they believe help them improve their writing. Discusses the changes in their preferences between the first and last days of class. States that the results were disappointing because students seemed to value grammar exercises and lectures over outside reading and…

Reports on the findings of a study that examined the writing behavior of eight fifth graders as they composed original mathematics story problems. Reveals strategies and techniques employed by students to accomplish this task. Analyzes student story-problem writing behavior. (HB)

Offers a structural analysis of an explanatory text written by a 12-year-old pupil to demonstrate how the PISA technique (Procedures for Incremental Structural Analysis) contributes to the understanding of conceptual processes in writing. Discusses evidence for the validity of such analysis and its generalizability. (SR)

Examines interactive writing, an innovative approach to early writing instruction. Documents the concepts about print and writing strategies that a Title I reading teacher taught her first grade students across the school year. Indicates that interactive writing provides many opportunities to teach critical and fundamental literacy concepts.…

There is no single program for improving student writing, but there are common elements of programs that help kids learn to write well. Likewise, there is no professional development program that provides all the skills and knowledge a teacher will need to improve student writing--and, ultimately, student learning--but there are common elements…

Based on extensive interviews, this book investigates how women in different academic disciplines perceive and describe their experiences as writers in the university. The book focuses on: (1) the writing strategies of 35 women from 5 different disciplines (anthropology, education, history, nursing, and psychology) and 4 academic ranks (seniors,…

This collection of materials, a summary of a workshop, is divided into five sections, framed by introductory and concluding remarks. The sections are: (1) a panel on "What Is the Domain Beyond?"--panelists discussed their particular interests in areas that could not be traditionally classified as "cognitive" and related those…