Considers the Modern Language Association's 1990 survey of doctorate-granting departments in English and other languages regarding doctoral study. Analyzes the survey results in depth, including institutional characteristics, numbers of applicants, number enrolled, degrees granted, and program trends. (HB)

Discusses the ways that writing teachers comment on and evaluate student writing, especially in the form of marginal comments. Describes three writing teachers in the act of creating margin comments. Analyzes their acts of commenting. Shows how analysis of such teacher response might inform work with student writers. (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)

Describes how one biology instructor utilizes freewriting and expressive writing activities as part of his daily lessons. Argues that such a method has increased student interest and productivity and has engaged the teacher more solidly into the content of the course. (HB)

Describes the National Writing Project's Technology Network. Outlines two specific national efforts of this network: (1) the National Writing Project/Polaroid Education Program Pilot Project, and (2) America's Smartest Home Videos. (HB)

Considers the role of teacher-researchers, who try to analyze their own teaching and their students' learning for the purpose of benefiting both. Narrates the development of a teacher-researcher's projects and the program of reading informing the projects. Presents a picture of the teacher-researcher movement at a crucial moment in its emergence.…

Argues that students' writing can usefully be published in the form of broadcasting through radio and television. Provides the responses of four practicing English teachers who explain how they have succeeded in having students prepare written materials for broadcast. (HB)

Discusses the ways that one teacher undertook a "cultural safari" in an attempt to learn extensively about African culture and society. Narrates this teacher's experiences in Senegal, her research about Africa, and its impact on her teaching. Argues that such activities "connect" students and teachers to the world community.…

Examines the concepts of multicultural and multiethnic literatures and considers how educators can develop guidelines for selecting these materials for classroom use. Suggests how the discord surrounding these concepts can be alleviated. (HB)

Describes how one English teacher developed an approach to teaching personal writing which juxtaposed the refined power of literary stories against the raw power of students' personal and sometimes tragic stories. Encourages English teachers to relate literary works to real, everyday life. (HB)

Describes how one teacher follows up a unit on Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" with a study of the contemporary film, "Steel Magnolias." Argues that both pieces celebrate the joys of life and that the film helps balance what is missing in the play. (HB)

Discusses the Standards Project for English Language Arts, an attempt to reform English instruction which potentially could engender broad, rapid changes in language arts instruction. Describes recent instructional innovations in which the author has participated, including mass media and multicultural instruction. (HB)

Describes the techniques developed by one instructor for helping students improve their writing, especially creative writing. Outlines how three central writing prompts can be used to inspire student writing and revision. Develops a computer metaphor as a helpful means by which students can access their own "screens." (HB)

Describes the way one teacher used extensive journal writing by students over assigned readings and the pros and cons of such an activity. Considers how teachers should respond to and evaluate student journal writings. Provides advice on how such journals can be used to develop writing voice. (HB)

Considers how students are affected in their reading of African American literary texts by the fact that their teacher is a black woman. Describes the impact of a teacher's race and gender in the literature classroom. Outlines tensions experienced by one black female professor teaching black literature to white students. (HB)