Mary Battle

Degrees Held

B.A., 1948, College of St. Teresa, Winona, Minnesota
M.A., 1954, Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
Ed.D., 1986, The University of Memphis

Academic Summary

Dr. Mary Vroman Battle has co-authored international research reports, has taught English in preschool through graduate school, and makes complex statistics simple for thesis writers. She developed Persuasive Writing (3604) into a computation intensive course and developed Practical English Grammar (3500) into a video distance learning course. Currently, Dr. Battle applies mathematical meta-analysis to experiments for teaching reading and writing dialogically.

Courses Taught

3500 Practical English Grammar
3601 Technical and Professional Writing
3603 Engineering Communications
3604 Persuasive Writing
4602 Advanced Composition

4630 Internship in Writing

4910 Independent Study
5012 Reading and Writing Integrated in the Classroom
6602 Advanced Composition
7037 Empirical Research in English: Special Topic

7100 Independent Study
7805 Foundations of Writing

7811 Internship in Writing

7996 Thesis

Major Publications

• "Computational Linguistics for Clarity." PostHarvest [Proceedings] for FORUM 2003. CD-ROM: Meeting the Cross-Cultural Challenge. Ed. Thomas L. Warren. Eberhardstr 69-71, 70173, Stuttgart, Germany: tekom, pdf, February 2004. This article answers questions that arose at FORUM 2003 in Milan, Italy (below), by providing additional explanation and new research. 7 pages.
• "Integrating Computational Linguistics into the [Technical Writing] Curriculum." PreSeedings FORUM 2003 (International Technical Communicators Conference organized by STC [USA], IEEE/PCS [USA, Canada], ISTC [United Kingdom], and tecom [Germany]). Ed. Ron Blicq. Eberhardstr. 69-71, 70173, Stuttgart, Germany: tekom, May 2003: 225-229. This blind refereed paper was presented at FORUM 2003 in Milan, Italy, in a Discussion Session, and revised in an invited Idea Market: "Computational Linguistics: Can We Integrate Them into the Curriculum?"
• “The Time for Meta-Analysis Begins.” PostHarvest for FORUM 2000. Ed. Thomas Warren, et al. Blackhorse Rd., Letchworth, Herts SG6 IYY, England: INTECOM. Four typescript pages.
• “Useful, Enjoyable Tools and Skills for Quantitative Research in Technical Communication.” Ed. Thomas Warren, et al. Blackhorse Rd., Letchworth, Jersts SG6 IYY, England: INTECOM , registered in Switzerland], Spring 2001. Four typescript pages.
• “Is It Time for Meta-Analysis?” Preseedings for FORUM 2000, London: Technical Communicators Leading the Way. Blind referreeed. Ed. T. Warren, et al.: 63-66. Also, “What Skills and Tools in Quantitative Research Do We Need Now?”: 209-210.
• "Statistical Power: Planning for It, Estimating It Post Hoc, and Reporting It." IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication 43.4 (December, 2000): 345-354. Second, third authors: G. Cowan, E. Rakow.

  • Award of Excellence for scholarly article by St. Louis Chapter for the Society for Technical Communication.

• “Updating Meta-Analysis for Technical Communicators.” Preseedings for FORUM 95: Disappearing Borders, International Conference for Technical Communicators. Ed. M.F. Steehouder (The Netherlands). Dortmund, Germany, 1996: Battle 1-2.
• "Meta-Analysis for Technical Communicators." PostHarvest for FORUM 95: Disappearing Borders, International Conference for Technical Communicators. Ed. M.F. Steehouder (The Netherlands). Dortmund, Germany, 1995: Battle 1-2.
• "A New/Old Strategy for Reading and Writing Technical Documents." Technical Communication 41.1 (1994): 81-88.
• “Graduate Research in Technical Communication: Preparing Students for the National Information Infrastructure.” Proceedings of the Society for Technical Communication, Minneapolis, May, 1994: 304.
• "Zen and the Art of Reporting Differences in Data That Are Not Statistically Significant." IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication 36.2 (1993): 75-80. Second author: E. Rakow.

  • 1993 Award of Excellence for Writing/Editing by Technical Publications Competition of Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mid-South Chapters for Technical Communication.
  • 1994 Best Paper Award in IEEE Transactions on Professional Communications.

• "Potential for Suicide and Aggression in Delinquents at Juvenile Court in a Southern City." Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior 23.3 (1993): 236-44. First author: A. O. Battle; third author: E. Tolley.
• "Insights Provided by Survivors of Elderly Suicide." Suicidal Behavior: Proceedings of the XVI Congress of the International Association for Suicide Prevention. Eds. Klaus Bohme, et al. Co-sponsored by the World Health Organization. Regensburg, Germany (1993): 165-168. First author: A.O. Battle; third author: K. L. Ahern.
• "Evaluation of Training Programs in Technical Communication." 1993 Proceedings of the Conference on the Society for Technical Communication [STC], Arlington, VA: STC, 1993: 267-270. [Abstracted in Technical Communication 40.8 (Aug. 1993): 582.]
• “Aristotle’s Four Causes as Guides for Today’s Knowledge Engineers.” In 1992 Proceedings of the 39^th Conference of the Society for Technical Communication. Arlington, VA: STC, 1992. 399-502. [Abstracted in Technical Communication 39.3 (Aug. 1992):448.]
• "Helping Students to Focus Their Reading and Writing." The English Record of the New York State English Council 41.2 (Second Quarter, 1991): 15-21.
• “Suicide: Students At Risk.” Teaching English in the Two-Year College 17.4 (Dec. 1990): 253-259.
• “Caretaker’s Attitudes Towards Acting Out in Three Adolescent Publications.” Suicide and Its Prevention: The Role of Attitude and Imitation. Eds. Rene F.W. Diekstra, et al. Published under the auspices of the United Nations. World Health Organization. Leiden, The Netherlands: E.J. Brill, 1989: 167-185. One of twenty papers selected from two hundred refereed presentations at the 1983 and 1985 Congresses of International Association for Suicide Prevention. (A.O. Battle, first author).