Berbrich, Joan D.
Writing Creatively
. New York: AMSCO School Publications, 1977
A creative writing course for children which offers many fun activities for learning to write poetry, essays, plays, and short stories. Brainstorming techniques and warm-up mind stretchers are also offered.
Cain, Thomas.
Common Sense About Writing
. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1967.
As the title indicates, Cain’s book offers very practical suggestions and lists for such things as planning papers, points to remember in writing, essentials for good paragraphs, how to develop an errors list and how to revise what has been written. A very helpful guide for any writing program.
Cooper, Charles R. and Odell, Lee.
Evaluating Writing: Describing
,
Measuring, Judging
. New York: National Conference of Teachers of English, 1977.
Develops the idea of evaluating writing in a meaningful manner through such techniques as the holistic evaluation process, individualized goal setting, self-evaluation and peer evaluation. A vital book in the development of evaluating the writing program.
Emig, Janet.
The Composing Processes of Twelfth Graders
. Urbana Illinois: National Conference of Teachers of English, 1971.
Case studies of various students and the writing process. Very important in developing the oral conference technique and the steps involved in improving what has been written.
Gibson, Walker.
Seeing and Writing
. New York: Longman, 1959.
Although the book is basically fifteen exercises in writing for college students, it can be adapted for younger children. The strength of this work is the emphasis on the senses and sensory deprivation. Especially interesting is how things are seen and interpreted according to time and place.
Hirsch, E.D.
The Philosophy of Composition
. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1977.
Hirsch stresses the importance of separating the teaching of writing from the teaching of literature. Several important rules for writing such as clarity, the paragraph, and keeping related words together are stressed. The unique skills involved in learning to write are discussed.
Koch, Kenneth.
Wishes, Lies,and Dreams
. New York: Chelsea House, 1970.
An excellent source of ideas for poetry stressing both relevancy for students and the belief that all writing has merit. A must for anyone in developing a creative writing program.
Macrorie, Ken.
Telling Writing
. New Jersey: Hayden Book Co., Inc., 1976.
A sequential list of writing activities which takes the child from non-focused free writing experiences to well-developed essays. Very well organized and helpful in planning the writing program. Stresses honesty as the definition of good writing.
Moffett, James.
Teaching the Universe of Discourse
. New York: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1968.
In Chapter Six, “Learning to Write by Writing,” Moffett stresses the role of the teacher in facilitating the writing program. It is here the ideas of quality feedback are discussed. Peer evaluation is also discussed at length and the role of the teacher is defined as teaching the students to teach each other.
Shaughnessy, Mina P.
Errors and Expectations
. New York: Oxford University Press, 1977.
A guide for the teacher of basic writing. Shaughnessy deals with the development of an errors list and scale for evaluating writing. Chapter Eight on expectations is especially helpful.
Zinsser, William.
On Writing Well
. New York: Harper & Row Publishers, 1980.
An informal guide to writing mon-fiction. Zinsser does a wonderful job discussing the elimination of clutter in writing and the importance of simplicity. The stress is on style, the audience, and the important concept that writing is not a contest. Very readable.
The books listed in this Bibliography can all be found at the Yale Library and many are also available at the New Haven Free Public Library and at Southern Connecticut State College. In addition, many are available in paperback.
