It is argued that college students can learn to improve their writing by being taught a number of basic strategies. A distinction is made between weak and strong strategies, and a number of each are identified and discussed. Classroom instructional procedures supporting improvement of skills are outlined. (Author/MSE)

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…

Reports results of a research study of how student groups organize a collaborative writing task. Finds that students use two patterns like those of the workplace (dividing and allocating the tasks or drafting together), produce better documents using a variety of organizing patterns, and do not perceive equal performance on the basis of…

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)

Twenty-one suggestions are offered for successful writing for psychology journals. Suggestions include tell readers why they should be interested, consider alternative interpretations of the data, give concrete examples, write for a somewhat broader and technically less skilled audience than you expect to read the article, and don't take…

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…

Offers arguments for and against making the essay central to the English and writing curriculum. Argues for the inclusion of the essay and discusses personal experiences and feelings regarding essay writing. (PRA)

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)

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)

Outlines several reasons why teachers who write become better teachers. Discusses 13 steps in the process of becoming a writer. (SR)

A guide to faculty writing for publication recommends that authors know their audience, find an appropriate publisher, follow an appropriate style manual, use an appealing writing style, establish a writing routine, not make multiple submissions, follow the revise-and-resubmit response, understand the selection, editing, and publication processes,…

This article considers differences between good and poor spellers and concludes individual differences in spelling ability are the result of differences in the knowledge of sound-spelling information rather than differences in visual memory abilities. Poor spellers may rely more on visual strategies, but this is due to limited phonological…