Describes how students can help evaluate each other in discussion groups and how this improves their writing. Asserts that students appreciate the scrutiny of the conferences and take their own writing much more seriously as a result. Describes this technique in the context of a high school writing workshop. (PRA)

Asserts that competency testing as part of a writing program does not have to be a liability to the writing center. Describes the situation at Boise State University, where the writing center helps the students to prepare for the competency exams. Discusses each exam and the process of helping the students. (PRA)

Discusses a concurrent validity study of an indirect measure of English-as-a-Second-Language writing based on information processing: anagram solving, word reordering, paragraph assembly tests, etc. The criterion measure was a direct, holistic measure of writing. Analysis revealed that the indirect measure did not exhibit concurrent validity for…

Reflects on three major issues that confronted researchers conducting a comparative study of achievement in written composition as they attempt to measure performance in writing across many languages and cultures. Concludes that most assessments of writing simply measure perceived drafting quality, which is a highly subjective judgment. (MG)

Describes the goals of the New Standards Project, and the first Writing Calibration Workshop at the Sagamore on Lake George in New York. Asserts that the workshop experiment shows that there is enough agreement among English teachers to consider developing a system of common standards that does not depend upon a single examination. (PRA)

Evaluates three computer software programs designed to help writing teachers to respond to and comment on student papers. Asserts that these programs do not actually assist teachers in writing comments, but help them to avoid writing comments. Argues that teachers expect too much of the computer as an aid to response. (PRA)

Investigates whether high- and low-apprehensive freshman composition students respond differently as peer evaluators in a face-to-face group versus a group using electronic mail. Finds that high apprehensives exhibit different strategies than low apprehensives for peer evaluation, and that high apprehensives participate more and rely more on the…

Describes and reviews a software package called "Writers Network," a writing program that contains teacher tools to minimize the difficulty in evaluating student writing and gives student tools to improve their writing. Notes that this program fosters enthusiastic interest in writing across the curriculum in teachers who might have not used…

Addresses common difficulties in the marking and correction of English-as-a-Second-Language student compositions. Presents possible solutions, discussing what works in the author's ESL classes, and suggests common teaching habits to avoid with ESL students. (SR)

Describes a utopic vision of the classroom conditions under which grades are no longer necessary. Critiques the specific practice of grading students' essays. Argues that grading student essays is not necessary to grading their performance in a given course. Shows how this can be done practically. (HB)

Investigates whether concreteness was related to a key characteristic of written composition--the cumulative sentence with a final modifier--which has been consistently associated with higher quality writing. Supports the conceptual-peg hypothesis of dual coding theory, with concrete verbs providing the pegs on which cumulative sentences are…

Claims that increasing numbers of reading educators are looking to recent advances in holistic writing assessment to explore new potentials for assessing reading comprehension. Reports on a research project exploring use of freewriting to assess reading comprehension; describes use of written retellings as a tool to support reading; and presents a…

Data concerning perceptions of the Scholarly Writing Project, designed to develop doctoral students' academic writing skills, were gathered from 45 doctoral students through focus groups, observations, and written and oral reflections. Students valued critiques from professors and peers, especially personalized face-to-face feedback and the…

Reciprocal, paired, qualitative, formative peer assessment of academic writing by 12 educational psychology postgraduate students was compared to staff assessments. Although there was very little evidence of conflict between views of staff and peers, assessments focused on different details. Students found the process time consuming,…

Examines relationships among computer experience, attitudes, writing behaviors, and writing quality for advanced undergraduate students who have owned Macintosh computers for at least three years. Finds that writing attitudes and practices are fairly well ingrained for the less competent writers, and they need to become comfortable with the…