NOVELTY - Silicon pellets are coated by forming an aqueous solution having a compound containing a selected dopant and polyvinyl alcohol.    USE - For coating silicon pellets.    ADVANTAGE - The invented method is inexpensive and easy to execute.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Coating silicon pellets with a selected dopant for used in adding that dopant to a silicon melt comprises forming an aqueous solution having a compound containing a selected dopant and polyvinyl alcohol; combining the aqueous solution with a measured silicon pallets in a container to form a mixture; heating the mixture to a temperature at which the aqueous solution evaporates and the polyvinyl alcohol polymerizes where the pellets are coated with a dopant-containing coating of polymerized polyvinyl alcohol; and discontinuing the heating after the dopant-containing coating of polymerized polyvinyl alcohol is dry and the coated silicon pellets are free-flowing. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for:    (A) a method of adding boron dopant to a silicon feed stock comprising adding a predetermined amount of silicon pellets coated to a predetermined intrinsic silicon pellets and mixing the coated silicon pellets and the intrinsic silicon pellets so that the coated silicon pellets are dispersed uniformly throughout the intrinsic silicon pellets;    (B) a method of coating silicon shot with boron dopant for use in adding dopant to a silicon melt comprising combining in a container a solution of boric acid and polyvinyl alcohol having a pH of 8-9 and a measured clean silicon pellets to form its mixture; heating the mixture to a temperature to remove solution by evaporation; moving the pellets as they are being heated to prevent agglomeration; and terminating the heating after the solution has been fully evaporated and the pellets are dry and free moving; and    (C) a method of producing a silicon melt comprising producing coated silicon pellets; and combining the coated silicon pellets with intrinsic silicon feedstock in particle for/m to form a mixture of coated silicon pellets and the silicon feedstock; and heating the mixture form a silicon melt.