Reviews "Before the First Word," the first film of a projected trilogy about writing, and two cassettes from the new videotape series "Teachers Teaching Writing," a project that grew out of the National Writing Project. (EL)

Reviews several word processing programs, a spell-check program, and a program to create computer programs. (EL)

Contributors review the advantages and disadvantages of essay contests. Considers typical essay topics, evaluation criteria, contests as motivational techniques, the validity of the essay form, and contests' impact on writers' audience awareness. (MM)

Suggests that television's imaginative hold on its viewers is produced by its use of primal mythological stories and powerful ritual narratives. (MM)

Examines the advantages, for both teacher and students, of using teacher writing in the composition class. (MM)

Presents four teachers' view on the role of Christianity in literature discussions. Suggests that the importance of Christianity in the formation of Western values and the development of Western literature cannot be ignored. (MM)

Proposes ways of blending the study of literature and the teaching of writing. Suggests assignments that involve writing or rewriting literature, writing about literature, and writing in response to literature. (MM)

Explains the rationale for and offers suggestions on implementing content area writing. (MM)

Describes the use of value analysis exercises to promote small group and class discussion. (MM)

Argues that effective grammar instruction depends on shifting from a teacher's to a learner's grammar. Introduces techniques for presenting grammar that are accurate, workable, economical, compact, operational, and immediate. (MM)

Suggests that learning to write should be mastered before a research paper is ever assigned. Presents exercises developing student skill in using source materials to express their own ideas. (MM)

Describes a successful paper exchange program between eighth-grade students and high school seniors. States that the peer evaluations created audience awareness and motivated students' writing efforts. (MM)

Describes an in-house writing workshop for plant supervisors that built on participants' strengths in organization, ability to establish an effective tone, and familiarity with company products and procedures. (MM)

Explains how picture books can be used to enrich and develop language skills at the middle school and junior high school level. (MM)

Four professionals in English instruction envision a future that contains a 10,000-student secondary school teaching only English language arts, a school where tutors help students learn independently; achieves balance between teaching and institutional ideals of curriculum for basal readers; addresses the writing movement, keyboard instruction,…