The result of a review of 160 documents, including research reports, theoretical essays, position papers, and journal articles, this report provides a synthesis of literature concerning composition in kindergarten through grade 12. The report presents theoretical, conceptual, organizational, and implemental materials concerning the concrete and abstract aspects of writing, writing instruction, and evaluation. Following an introduction, the materials are divided as follows: (1) the state of writing, (2) the cognitive assumptions of writing, (3) the composing process, (4) program frameworks, (5) instructional methods, (6) teacher training, (7) motivation techniques, and (8) assessment. Appendixes include detailed scope and sequence models. (HTH)