When students have difficulty writing, it is often because they are apathetic or afraid of failing, rather than because of a serious lack of skill. Basic writing teachers must break through student apathy and fear before the students can begin to progress. One way is to ask basic writers to unscramble sentences or analyze ambiguous sentences to discover that they already have a strong command of grammar and structure. Basic writers also often have poor self esteem which can interfere with their ability to produce work comparable with their capabilities. A student-centered environment in the classroom, and use of concrete materials and problems can help students build a sense of self-worth. Small group work and the use of tapes, films, and records can help maintain student interest, while occasional "frivolous" freewriting or analyzing can break class monotony. Because basic writers usually have numerous problems with their writing, setting one or two tangible goals for each paper can reduce student anxiety about producing a "perfect" paper, and numerous drafts can let them achieve one goal at a time. This strategy reduces the amount of time teachers must spend grading as well. Such methods may help students come to regard writing as a conquerable skill, and provide them with the impetus for further self-directed learning. (JC)