Research in Basic Writing

This reference handbook surveys research on the central issue associated with the teaching of unprepared writers. Though basic writing has only been recognized as a distinct area of teaching and research since 1975, the existing bibliographic texts already seem limited due to their age or lack of annotation. This volume provides current and extensive bibliographic essays and will help to define this new field of study for teachers and researchers.

Following an introduction that summarizes the origins and significant texts in basic writing, the book is divided into three sections, Social Science Perspectives, Linguistic Perspectives, and Pedagogical Perspectives. The first section, which contains three essays, views the field through the lens of social, psychological, and political issues. The second section, also containing three essays, examines contributions made from studies of grammar, dialects, and second-language acquisition. The third section, in its four essays, focuses on the design, development, administration, and evaluation of basic writing courses, the use of computers in basic writing classrooms, the role of the writing lab, and the preparation of basic writing teachers. An appendix that reviews current textbooks for basic writing courses is also included, as well as an index. This book will be a valuable resource for teachers of basic writing, in education courses and workshops that train teachers and tutors, and in fields such as linguistics, technical writing, and Teaching English as a Second Language. It will also be an important addition to public and university libraries and many education programs.