A study of 34 composition texts with sales of over 100,000 reveals that only seven demonstrated an awareness of recent theories and discoveries about writing. (DD)

For lack of "distance," many teachers respond too strongly to the wrong things in student papers.

Examines undergraduate English programs through a survey of 108 American colleges and universities. Argues that the overwhelming emphasis on the study of literature gives students a narrow impression of the field, and that departments should offer, in addition, opportunities to study creative writing, languages and linguistics, and composition and…

Advanced composition students benefited from the experience of evaluating and grading papers submitted in a freshman writing course. (DD)

Discusses the early twentieth-century perception that Harvard writing scholars influenced writing instruction and literary scholarship and that individuals of stature at Cornell, Michigan, and Columbia universities thought it was a bad thing and resented it with considerable intensity. Tells the story in personal correspondence, MLA resolutions,…

Suggests that criticism of Donald C. Stewart's assertion that many English majors enter teaching stems from a misunderstanding. Argues that Stewart simply proposes making graduate students more aware of recent developments within the field. Questions critics' claim that few graduate-level English majors enter college teaching. (SG)