Changing a curriculum is already stressful enough without finding new ways to create anxiety, discontent, and rancor. To provide a truly integrated liberal education, the author contends that educators must not only change their curricula--the courses they offer--but they must change what they do in the classroom, the kinds of papers and…

This article presents a course design of English 450: Theories and Methods of Argument. The course is an upper level course in the Writing concentration of B. A. in English and American Language and Literature at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, a metropolitan university in the South. At the 400 level, Theories and Methods of Argument is…

This paper investigates the development of writing initiatives in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, an area where prior to 1989, writing in universities played a very minor role. Using data gathered from eight institutions that currently have writing programs of some sort, I identify three typical paths writing initiatives…

This article addresses the issue of basic writing, demonstrating how one university's basic writing program acts as a steward of writing. The assumption that basic writers only consume resources rather than contribute to academic excellence is rejected. What links the author responses to this issue is a publication of student writing entitled…

Uses results from a survey of students and faculty at the University of Texas at Austin to criticize emphases within the English department and the university as a whole, particularly the heavy use of teaching assistants in undergraduate instruction. (AA)

Considers the demands being placed on English departments for better teaching of writing and calls for a new emphasis on research in the teaching of writing. (AA)

Contrasts the need for more extensive and effective composition programs with faculty training almost exclusively focused on literature. (AA)

Relates the declining literacy among college students to institutional factors and traditions in English departments which devalue undergraduate composition instruction. Available from: Harper's Magazine Company, Two Park Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016, Subscriptions; $8.97 per year. (AA)

Provides responses by various scholars to two articles on teaching conflict and struggle and its relevance to the field of basic writing published in the December 1992 issue of "College English." (HB)

Concludes that a combination of a writing sample and an objective test should be used to place students in freshman composition courses. (DD)

Discusses various aspects of language--written and spoken--and concludes that departments of English have not yet met their responsibilities concerning the teaching of writing. (JM)

Seeks a redefinition of departmental goals and criteria for promotion. (AA)

Misconceptions about the teaching of writing prevail on many college campuses, partially because writing teachers fail to communicate with their colleagues. It is especially important for writing teachers to let their colleagues know that learning to write is a long term developmental process that needs support and reinforcement from the entire…

Shows why English department chairpersons feel that they are under a state of siege; suggests that chairpersons form bonds with other humanities chairpersons, help faculty members understand current difficulties, take the idea of accountability seriously, focus on student writing skills, and try to determine which courses are educationally…