PUB TYPE Reports- Research/Technical (143) Spoeches/ConfererAce Papers (150)

Drawing upon the processing, distancing, and affective streams of writing research, a studT examined the relationships,among key variables iu the writing of sixth through twelfth grade students: grade level, writing ability, knowledge of appropriate and inappropriate writing behaviors, and writing apprehension. Subjects, 496!students from an urban school district, completed an instrument designed to measure knowledge of appropriate writing behaviors and a writing appreheniion test. Additional data were gathered from teacher witting ' of student writing ability. Results indicated that students rated lowest in writing ability were less able to alentify written descriptions of appropriate and inappropriate writing behavior than were high ability students. In addition, writing ability was related to emotional apprehension about the act of writing, with low ability students showing greater apprehension than high ability students. Multiple regression analysis revealed that student knowledge of appropriate and inappropriate writing behavior was a significant predictor of writing ability. (A copy of the instrument to measure student knowledge of appropriate writing behavior is appended.) (FL) ***********************************I0********************************* * Reproductionr.supplied by ZDRS are the best that can bp made * * from the original document. * V