In this article, we assess the status of basic writing early in the twenty-first century. Beginning with a discussion of the attacks on BW that intensified during the 1990s and early 2000s--attacks that originated from such diverse sources as state legislatures, university officials, and BW scholars themselves--we go on to summarize the responses…

Examines the increasing pressure exerted on high schools to ensure adequate preparation for college, pressure exerted above all by state-mandated tests. Notes that hopes of coping with such pressure rest on understanding its source. Concludes that collaborative ventures between colleges and high schools can transcend a fixation on state mandates…

Represents an attempt to define the seriousness of errors by computerized tabulation and in a limited context, because no reliable accounting of general attitudes toward errors exists. (MG)

Describes how a computerized text analysis program can help students discover error patterns in their writing, and notes how students' responses to analyses can reduce errors and improve their writing. (MM)