Describes the approach and computer programs used to analyze literature. The two aspects of text captured in the analysis are thematic segmentation and density. Shows how these methods may be applied to Balzac's short story, "Sarrasine." (JDH)

This article describes a "whole language approach" to the development of literacy and a Basic Writing Scale developed to evaluate growth in writing ability and to diagnose strengths and weaknesses in the writing of illiterate adults. (CT)

Describes efforts of the University of Michigan's English Composition Board to examine and make more uniform the process of evaluating entering student essays for purposes of placement. Examines some of the factors evaluators bring to bear when assessing student papers. (HTH)

Uses resources from the ERIC system to show teachers strategies for making teacher commentary count in writing evaluation and to discuss the characteristics of effective writing evaluations. (EL)

Defends the CUNY-WAT against the charges made by Fishman (CS 731 865). Offers suggestions for those wishing to undertake research into the choice of topics for writing assessment tests. (FL)

Decries the use of wordy, inflated prose by writers who should know better. (AEA)

The Connecticut Assessment of Educational Progress assesses writing traits using different approaches to diagnose students' skills. These include multiple choice, direct assessment, "revising test," dictation, and note-taking. These measures and scoring guides are used to assess several elements of good writing. (DWH)

The article presents a critical review of procedures for analyzing coherence in written language samples. The psychological model of referential coherence, linguistic analysis of cohesion, and given/new contract are discussed in terms of research results, psychometric concerns, and writing research. Recommendations concerning their relative…

Analyzes the use of transitional markers in 25 published essays. Concludes that while marker usage at times obfuscates rather than clarifies relationships, it can also enhance the writer's authority and provide both writer and reader with a mental respite before they plunge into the next thought. (MM)

Analyzes the implicit requirements for achieving reliable results from holistic ratings of writing samples and argues that these conditions bring the validity of the ratings into doubt. (HOD)

Project Essay Grade (PEG), developed by E. Page (1968) uses computerized methodology to grade student writing. PEG can also be used to assess the quality of civilian and military writing products, such as regulations or instructional texts. Application of PEG offers the potential for enhancing government efforts to monitor writing quality and…

The intent of the Washington State Writing Framework is to provide support for the development of writing benchmarks and instructional guidelines for individual school districts. The purpose of the writing framework is: to provide grade by grade overview of the Essential Academic Learning Requirements in writing; to complement the frameworks for…

This collection of essays reveals a keen awareness of the degree to which ethics and ethical systems are located in particular instructional contexts. The essays consider the implications of these contexts from a variety of perspectives, both theoretical and pedagogical. In the collection's first part, Ethics and the Composition Classroom, are the…

This document contains samples and explanations from Colorado's state reading and writing comprehension test for Grade 4, hereby released to the public (parents, teachers, and any other interested parties). It presents one reading comprehension item, the scoring guide for that item, and 6 different student responses, with the scores they received.…

This book presents the graduate-student voice as authoritative and useful in the field of composition studies, based on statistics indicating that the majority of composition classes are staffed by graduate students. It contains 30 essays by graduate students that balance theoretical and practical issues as well as problematizing traditional and…