Word processing may change how people learn to write. The use of a word processor to teach a sixth grader with writing problems showed how the machine can alleviate problems involving writing with pencil and paper, correcting errors, evaluating and revising, and producing a good-looking text. (RW)

This survey of 106 two-year colleges in the Midwest indicates that 77 percent have assessment tests in writing and 72 percent in reading, and that English departments play a major role in communicating test results to students. (AEA)

Shares successful strategies for encouraging future English teachers to think deeply and seriously--but not rigidly--about grading. (RL)

Describes a method of evaluating writing that encourages students to become writers and that rewards their compositions. Notes how the evaluation method examines four major characteristics of good writing: surprise, truth, detail, and depth. (RL)

In this naturalistic study of essay marking, 15 university lecturers graded an examination paper and completed the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. A significant positive correlation was found between the marks given and the grader's lie score, indicating possible effects of staff-student interactions or social desirability on biases in grading.…

Stepwise regression yielded a 13-variable model for predicting writing performance that included psychological, stylistic, and demographic variables. (FL)

Six participants in the Third International Conference on the Teaching of English share their views on the contributions made during the conference. (HOD)

Examines typical elementary school teachers' marks on student writing assignments, which place greater emphasis on mechanics at the expense of content. Suggests ways in which writing program effectiveness might be improved by shifting focus to the development of creative and effective content, during which mastery of mechanics will occur…

Suggests two ways to make grading of writing easier, fairer, more helpful to students: first, using minimal grades or fewer levels of quality, and, second, using criteria that spell out the features of good writing sought in the assignment. Discusses minimal grading techniques in contexts of low-stakes writing, high-stakes writing, the final…

Describes a study in which 12 students' papers were critiqued by both WordPerfect's "Grammatik" grammar checking software and by real English/business communication professors. Finds significant limitations to the effectiveness of the software as a guide for student writers. (SR)

Dynamic assessment is described as a framework for the educational diagnosis of writing disabilities that is consistent with process models of writing instruction. Procedures use interview and response-to-instruction paradigms to study children's abilities and their knowledge of procedures for writing. Diagnostic protocols are outlined and…

Discusses the four-week summer Memphis (Tennessee) Urban Writing Institute, during which a furor erupted over the dilemma of grading. Provide a number of approaches to grading students' writing, including minimalist grading, cassette grading, collaborative grading, and portfolio grading. Suggests that teachers consider the grading dilemma and…

Discusses ways teachers in Indiana can use performance assessment at every grade level to provide students feedback for effective learning in writing. Reviews teaching strategies to help young learners get a good start in developing writing skills. Discusses ways that teachers can continuously assess student progress and focus instruction to help…

In a study of criteria for and reliability of grading of college essays in introductory psychology, 16 essays were marked by 12 faculty and 20 graduate students. Analysis found that two content attributes (facts, examples) accounted for 82% of variance in grading by faculty, while five stylistic measures accounted for the remainder. Both faculty…

Discusses the use of computer-generated text analysis to provide diagnostic information regarding students' writing. Describes a study of 12 stories written by grade 6 students in the United Kingdom that used computer-generated text analysis to determine whether the writing met the criteria for National Curriculum levels of attainment for the…