This paper outlines and discusses the development of a scoring system for content in children's transactional writing. The writing was collected as part of a project investigating the effects on attitudes and writing performance of mother-tongue use in second-language classrooms. (JL)

Finds main effects for group but not gender. Finds that the combined use of direct and indirect measures appeared most effective in examining the complexities of writing produced by learning-disabled and nonlearning disabled college students. (RS)

Considers the theoretical issues of portfolio approaches to writing evaluation, especially as related to use in a large-scale setting such as a high school. Focuses on several key issues: standardization of portfolio contents, scoring procedures, the authenticity of student writings, and logistics. Describes a pilot study of the feasibility of…

Discusses electronic meeting systems (EMS) technology. Tests the effectiveness of the Groupwriter tool, which allows for group composition of written documents. Concludes that EMS technology significantly improved the quality of policy and procedure documents written in groups but that member satisfaction was not statistically different among the…

Examined the words used by 20 mothers and 20 nonmothers to describe the writing and drawing products of preschool children. Found that mothers were more likely than nonmothers to identify the products using the same label as the child, but found no difference between the groups in the use of the terms "writing" and "drawing"…

Describes the Reading/Writing Task, a procedure used to assess what students recall and comprehend from their reading but that also guides them to recall, summarize, and react to what they have read. Discusses the activities involved in the task and the evaluation procedure, and outlines the Reading/Writing Task scoring framework. (TJQ)

Experimental groups used four decision-making techniques--reverse brainstorming (RS), dialectical inquiry (DI), devil's advocacy (DA), and consensus--in evaluating writing assignments. Control group produced a better quality document. Student reaction to negative features of RS, DI, and DA were not significant. (SK)

Suggests that assessment must be built into the curriculum and focused upon the kinds of skills students need. Considers much educational testing in writing to be reductionist, unrealistic, and detrimental to learning. Critiques writing assessment's trust and reliance on a single or small sample of student work collected and scored outside of a…

Conducts a case study of the problem identification and resolution strategies of three basic writers. Finds that basic writers are capable of evaluating surface-level problems and rhetorical problems in both their own and peers' texts if instructors provide them with opportunities to do so. (RS)

A Michigan teacher involved her fourth-grade class in developing effective writing criteria by providing students with interesting writing samples and challenging them to select "plus" sentences from their own work to read in class. This modeling technique helped students recognize good writing and gain appreciation of the standards for…

Study examined effects of training on positive grader bias toward nicely handwritten essays. Nine typed essays, nine in neat handwriting, and nine in poor handwriting were transcribed into the other modes. Graders trained to avoid bias and three controls graded the essays. Both groups showed significant bias toward good handwriting. (SM)

Offers six descriptions from middle school, high school, and college teachers regarding how they handle grading and evaluation in the reading/writing workshop. (SR)

Finds that papers written by eighth graders on computer were rated significantly higher on all four dimensions of a holistic/analytic writing assessment scale. Notes that students made more microstructural than macrostructural changes and continuously revised at all stages of their writing. Considers student experience with computers and the…

Examines how students view their teachers' comments on their writing assignments. Reports the results of a survey on how students view comments. Offers suggestions for what teachers can do to create a shared context for commentary. (PRA)

It is argued that most foreign language writing assignments are without meaningful content or context for the student, and directions given by the teacher provide little guidance or impetus for personal investment in the project. Several writing exercises emphasizing these aspects of composition, and criteria for evaluation, are offered. (MSE)