An analysis of the kinds of sentences used by students in sample ETS English Composition Test essays, and a survey of some of the actual weaknesses of these papers (e.g., shifting subjects, use of incorrect idiom, and inaccurate or incorrect word choices or usages) point to real gaps in student writing skills. Elements found in good papers (e.g., effective paragraphing, use of quotation to support a point, use of rhetorical questions, use of illustrations, and effective parallel structures) should provide both goals and methods for strengthening writing proficiency. Some specific teaching techniques for improving composition quality include (1) greater emphasis on the improvement of simple sentences before attempting a mastery of compound or complex forms (2) adoption of the methods of the Christensen Rhetoric Program ("generative rhetoric"), and (3) relating oral usage and the oral approach to writing. (MF)