Examines how teacher expectations, their empathy, and their own sense of self-efficacy have an effect on their teaching and on their students. Points out some parallels between the affective issues in the classroom (the expectations teachers have of students) and in composition programs (the expectations administrators have for teachers of…

Examines the way that value mediates the construction of meaning, how the active processes of constructing meaning are molded around value. Explores how a description of the writing process in terms of value might inform classroom practice--how it might affect teacher perceptions of what students are doing in their writing and how teachers comment…

Examines critically the commonplace assumption that students are outsiders who need to be initiated into the academic community. Argues that the image of students as outsiders fails to consider their many years of experience in education. Suggests that instructors should position themselves as outsiders to the students' interpretive practices.…

Presents the position statement of the Conference on College Composition and Communication Executive Committee on writing assessment in both two-year and four-year institutions. Suggests that the primary purpose of the specific assessment should govern its design, its implementation, and the generation and dissemination of its results. Provides…

Makes a case for why the National Council of Teachers of English should participate in the K-12 movement to develop curriculum content standards. Explains that curriculum content standards do not strive to impose teaching practices on teachers but rather encourages the discussion of standards on the local level. (TB)

Argues that the development of national standards is another way in which the literacy crisis is being managed and maintained, a crisis arising from the tension between America's promise to the individual that he or she will have full access to intellectual resources and the needs of capitalism to have a differentiated, stratified workforce. (TB)

A number of the axioms of tagmemics are explored in order to develop exercises based on these axioms about language structure but specifically designed to develop writing competence. Exercises for unit definition through contrast with other units; range of variability; and distribution in class, sequence, and system receive particular attention.…

Contemporary poetry can be of value in the study of composition as a model of careful, concise, and effective use of language. Students can observe and, hopefully, imitate the poet's precise use of (1) vocabulary, (2) supporting materials, (3) introductions and conclusions, (4) transitional words and phrases, and (5) a variety of types of diction…

This poetry assignment for college freshmen involved preparing a paper. Reading of an Unterecker essay on poetry, extensive reading in a chosen poet, study of criticism, and organization of the paper are discussed. Excerpts from the results are included. Results are discussed in relation to the appreciation of poetry and composition skills. (AF)

Strengths and weaknesses of generative grammar are examined by an apologist for the traditionalists. Criticism is directed toward difficulties encountered by the layman in comprehending texts on linguistic theories, linguists' use of jargon and pet formulas, and unwieldy amounts of terminology constantly being developed. Special attention is…

The complex nature of grammar and its relevance to teaching today are explored in the light of modern linguistics. Reviewing the development and fundamental theory of transformational generative grammar, the author points out its substantial merit and also its failure to be understood as exemplary grammatical analysis of language rather than…