Claims that written tests are superior to objective, scan-tron tests in literature, composition, and vocabulary because they require students to think on paper. Describes the following types of in-class written tests and examines the advantages of each: literary essay, topical composition, imitation, brief answer, timed rewrites, and vocabulary…

Claims that the controversy about whether writing is a process or a product is largely unnecessary because writing is clearly both. States that the real argument in the profession regards what constitutes (1) useful research, (2) the tools needed to do it, and (3) the vocabulary within which it should be conducted. (JD)

A study of writing samples and communications course grades of 477 applicants to a quantitatively based undergraduate school of management revealed that students were generally deficient in writing skills. Specific deficiencies included (1) failure to analyze audience or purpose, (2) lack of content, and (3) lack of organization. (CH)

Presents techniques from Writing Across the Curriculum adapted to the foreign language classroom. Strategies for encouraging students to write more effectively in the foreign language are described. The strategies include assigning relevant topics, treating writing as a process, and responding to and evaluating student writing in a more…

Describes the methodology and results of a study of the differences between instructors' evaluations of student papers and the evaluations of other students. The results indicated that instructors and college freshmen use different criteria and stances when judging student work. (HTH)

Points out the disadvantages of checkmark grading. States that many students will not be able to revise their work with the help of only a few symbols on their papers and that students will set their sights as low as the grading system lets them. (EL)

Reviews "Marking A Level English Literature" by P.A. Lapworth, which is intended as a clarification for teachers of the basis on which candidates' papers are assessed by the Joint Matriculation Board examiners at 'A' Level. (DF)

Reports the results of a study exploring the relationship between motivation and writing in college freshmen and refutes the popular theory that most students have a strong desire to express themselves but cannot. (DF)

Discusses criteria to use when evaluating poetry written by children and contains numerous examples of poetry written by children. (DF).

Examines the CUNY-WAT program and questions many aspects of it, especially the choice and phrasing of topics. (FL)

Contains readers' comments as well as the authors' responses to earlier "College English" articles by Kenneth Bruffee and Johnathan Kamholtz and Robin Sheets. Contains comments only on articles by Ann Berthoff and William Marling. (EL)

Tells how to improve in-class essay exams by viewing them as a rough draft of a yet-to-be completed essay on which the teacher will make specific corrections, comments, and suggestions about how to improve it. Describes the grading of such exams and class discussion dealing with all aspects of the essay. (EL)

Advocates the practice of peer editing in primary and secondary schools and offers three workable strategies for using students as editors: role playing, comments on the pages, and face-to-face critiques. (DF)

Discusses the problems of readers' different responses to essay test passages and the implications for the subsequent writing assignment. Describes a model of the writing assessment episode and discusses four generalizations about writing task interpretation. (HTH)

Describes a study of the influence of wording changes in essay questions on test performance. Results did not support the hypothesis that such changes would affect writer performance. (HTH)