Based on statistics from the first few administrations of the SAT writing section, the test is performing as expected. The reliability of the writing section is very similar to that of other writing assessments. Based on preliminary validity research, the writing section is expected to add modestly to the prediction of college performance when…

In discussing the role of education in assuring equity of opportunity for greater social and economic mobility, the conflicts among equity, open access, and the oversupply of educated labor are recognized. It is proposed that colleges can deal with these difficulties through improved advisement, instruction, and certification procedures. (AF)

Points out that geography works toward educational objectives by helping the learner understand geographic aspects of society, by providing collaboration on and discussion of important problems, by informing him about present-day dilemmas, and by teaching him how to learn for himself. Journal available from Faculty of Education, 3700 McTavish St.,…

Reviews contributions British universities make to the improvement of learning and teaching in the schools, explains why a study of these contributions is timely, and identifies some of the problems and issues that confront the further development of this work. (Author/CK)

Black institutions continue to produce proportionately more Black graduates than White colleges. In addition, graduates of Black colleges attain more doctorate degrees than do those from White institutions. In view of their record of producing graduates with a limited share of federal and private dollars, Black institutions are more than cost…

Varying aspects of the study of psychology are discussed focusing on the shortcomings of the traditional definition of psychology as the study of behavior. Effects of cognitive, experimental, and applied psychology are examined, and a general concept of psychology as the study of the mind and mental processes is advanced. (BH)

Focuses on the assessment of writing skills of incoming English-as-a-Second-Language college students in the United States and Canada. The article discusses the traditional impromptu essay and its alternatives, portfolio assessment and the Undergraduate Academic Writing Assessment (UAWA). The UAWA reveals students' previously unknown strengths and…

Compared teachers' holistic scoring of Nigerian English-as-a-Second-Language students' essays and their scores on a standardized language proficiency test. Results revealed that holistic scoring of essays lacked concurrent validity with the subject pool. (32 references) (CB)

Seven formats of educational testing were compared according to student preferences/perceptions of how well each test method evaluates learning. Formats compared include true/false, multiple-choice, matching, multi-digit testing (MDT), fill-in-the-blank, short answer, and essay. Subjects were 1,440 university students. Results indicate that tests…

Presents an analysis of errors in a 400-page corpus of German essays by American college students in second-year language courses showing that syntax is the most problematic area, followed by morphology. This study indicates that 80% of student errors are not of semantic origin and are potentially recognizable by a syntactic parser. (six…

Contends that teachers assign essay writing to help students improve their critical thinking skills. Discusses six criteria of a well-written history essay. Includes a five-essay assignment strategy, designed to be implemented over the course of an academic year, to help students improve essay research and writing. (CFR)

Reports on a study of the free response essays in the Advance Placement U.S. history test from 1963-92. Asserts that there were four significant transition years: 1964, 1965, 1973, and 1976 and predicts another in 1994. Presents data indicating trends toward social history, cultural pluralism, and economic/business topics. (CFR)

Suggests that the claims of advocates of centralized standards and universal testing of schools must be questioned and that alternatives to testing should be considered for the educational output of schools. Argues that supporters have failed to consider the costs of national essay-type tests and the inherent problems of test reliability. (MJP)

Reports a study carried out on a sample of final exam essays written by native-speaking Arabic students of English attending the freshman English course in the English-as-a-foreign-language program at the Lebanese American University. Examines what analytic and holistic scoring using one evaluation instrument can tell teachers about their…

A project to improve students' essay writing on a first-year college geography course is described. Students attended a preparatory workshop in which they helped to generate criteria, and self and peer assessment were supervised and regulated. Project success was evaluated based on analysis of marks, student feedback, and staff opinion.…