Topic: Research Abstracts

10-second review: basic college writing courses; research papers; word processing

Title: “Annotated Bibliography of Research in the Teaching of English.” Research in the Teaching of English (December 1993), 423-437.

Summaries: Basic college writing courses. Questions the value of placing students in “Basic Writing” courses. Reports the success rates of some students placed in “Basic Writing” who took it and the greater success rates of students recommended for “Basic Writing” who took higher level writing courses. PD Adams, 1993, p. 435. ………. Research writing. Surveyed 100 college freshmen English students: They don’t discuss topic choices with others, rarely use note cards, outlines or preliminary thesis statements. MC Megna, 1992, p. 435. ………. Word processing improves performance somewhat of weaker students, improves motivation for writing. RL Bangett-Drowns, 1993, p. 437. ………. Word processing: students using computers for writing in-class essays wrote more, put more effort into writing than those who did not use them, but did not produce better writing. EB Posey, 1993, p. 437.