Examines the composing processes of basic writers, examining their tendencies toward writer's block, low-level goals, and writer-based prose. Suggests that basic writers be taught that the purpose of writing is to communicate with other people and that errors, revisions, and general messiness are part of the complicated process. (PAA)

Reviews research supporting the use of writing to develop reading ability, highlighting findings that writing exercises improve reading comprehension, recall, and retention of texts. (PAA)

Reviews the history and current status of developmental education. Discusses three historical phases: Pre-Open Admissions, Equality and Access, and Accountability eras. Presents results from a national survey of developmental reading programs, focusing on faculty, students, curriculum, and program links. Suggests planning strategies for the…

Compares English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) and foreign-language instruction in terms of the context of learning and course goals. Considers the differences in the backgrounds, attitudes, motivations, sociocultural characteristics, personality factors, and learning styles of ESL and foreign-language students. (GFW)

To teach critical thinking, teachers should (1) define critical thinking liberally enough to encompass affective responses, creativity, and flexibility; (2) respect their students; (3) discuss values and accept shifting values; (4) be receptive to change; and (5) be able to explain the epistemology of a subject. (GFW)

Suggests criteria for use by learning-disabled (LD) students in selecting a college. Offers 22 suggestions to help LD students cope with college life; e.g., organize your time, develop/use study skills, set realistic goals, use a tape recorder, use tutoring services, and seek career counseling. (GFW)

Describes how two Queensborough Community College reading faculty staged a debate for developmental students to illustrate the connections between reading, writing, and critical thinking; and to encourage students to critically question and evaluate what they read and hear. Details follow-up writing and group assignments, including a student…

Describes a study of changes in attitudes and writing performance of learning-disabled (LD) college students resulting from a mainstream writing class employing a workshop format and microcomputer word processors. The LD students' performance level was consistent with the non-LD students in the class, and their writing attitudes improved. (DMM)

Describes a study designed to determine the differential effects of text with and without logical linguistics connectives (e.g., because, since, as a result) on developmental college readers' comprehension. Results strongly suggest that text with explicit connectives facilitates readers' ability to make inferences. Discusses implications for…

Discusses a study of listening strategies among 12 English-as-a-Second-Language college students, using protocol analysis to analyze students' oral responses to listening selections. Identifies 3 recalling strategies (e.g., paraphrasing); 4 speculating strategies (e.g., inferring); 3 probing strategies (i.e., analyzing language conventions); and 2…

Advocates teaching developmental students to apply the schemata they unconsciously use when choosing movies or television programs to select recreational books. Reviews six steps in surveying/previewing recreational books and three stages of diminishing teacher involvement in book selection. (DMM)

Reviews the history of writing across the curriculum programs and examines two instructional orientations, the general writing approach, which views writing as a unique tool for consolidating learning; and the discipline-specific approach, which focuses on the function or social purposes for writing. (DMM)

Distinguishes between macrostructures and microstructures in text, reviews research on the comprehension of text structures, and concludes that both theory and research support the presence of a link between text structure and reading comprehension. (DMM)

Examines theories and research related to notetaking and review, including levels of processing, transfer-appropriate processing, schema theory, long-term memory and forgetting, and metacognition. Reports findings from interviews with five university professors who have developed and teach courses in study skills or learning strategies regarding…

Examines attitudinal variables (e.g., math anxiety, attitude toward success), locus of control, high school grade point average (HSGPA), and Scholastic Aptitude Test Quantitative (SATQ) scores as predictors of first-quarter grades in a developmental mathematics course. Reports that HSGPA, SATQ, and self-confidence were significant predictors of…