Similarities between the weaknesses found among English as a first language students and English as a second language (ESL) students suggest the need to use basic writing materials with English as a second language students. Prewriting materials should be chosen in an effort to teach students some criteria for analyzing, evaluating, and criticizing written work and, ultimately, their own written work. Guided writing texts should be chosen on the basis of their cultural awareness and sensitivity and the extent to which they address the English language needs of the students who will use them. Finally, guidebooks on research paper writing should present detailed explanations about what to write in a research paper, with a heavy dose of what a thesis statement is, what it means to adequately develop a thesis statement, how library sources are used to develop a thesis, and why documentation of those sources is so important. (Appended is a short bibliography of materials for use with ESL students.) (HOD)