Why Johnny can't write

Myra J. Linden, a teacher with long classroom experience, takes a critical look at two widely used approaches to teaching writing: the process method and Writing Across the Curriculum, which grew out of it. Recent criticism has questioned how well both actually work. The book turns instead to sentence combining, a little-known technique that studies over roughly the last fifteen years have shown to be effective and that is only now getting the notice it deserves.

Drawing on sentence combining, the author argues for rethinking and retooling the English classroom, and suggests that doing so could make the wider school system more effective. The discussion is aimed at teachers of any level, particularly those responsible for teaching writing, though it also has value for adults who want to sharpen their own writing.

The book includes sample exercises. Working through them, the author suggests, builds writing skill and gives readers a firm base for continued language development throughout their lives.