The Rights and Wrongs of Assessing Writing

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The Rights and Wrongs of Assessing Writing

• Nermin S. Eltorie (nersaleh_at_aucegypt.edu)
• American University
• School of Continuing Education
• English Studies Division

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Introduction

• Writing as a Skill within the Communicative based
  curricula
• Program Objectives for the teaching of writing in
  a Continuing Education Setting
• Instructors knowledge and experience in teaching
  and assessing Writing
• Rubrics for Writing based on specific tasks

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English Studies Division (ESD) Curricula

• Communicatively based instruction
• Culturally based orientation
• Function based language
• Workplace oriented topics
• General English courses (13 Levels)
• Novice - Elementary - Intermediate - Advanced

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Language Skills

• A communicative based curricula stressing on the
  oral/aural learning, placing more stress on
  listening and speaking and less on writing.
• Listening
• Speaking
• Reading
• Writing

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Writing

• Function Based Writing
• Describing qualities
• Comparing jobs
• Making requests
• Writing about the past
• Writing about culture and customs
• Describing and solving problems

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Paragraph Writing

• Function Describing Qualities
• What kind of boss would you like to have?
• Your company needs a computer programmer. What
  qualities do you think they should have?

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Informal Letter Writing

• Function Comparing Jobs
• You recently changed your profession from an
  engineer to a hotel manager. Write a letter to a
  friend telling him/her your reasons for the
  change.
• Your sister wants to study the Arts, you think it
  would be better for her to study psychology.
  Write a letter and explain why.

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Formal Letter Writing

• Function Explaining customs and habits.
• Your business associate is paying a working visit
  to your country for the first time. Write a
  letter explaining your countrys business and
  social culture.
• A foreigner is visiting your country for the
  first time. Write to him/her about the dos and
  donts of your culture.

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Three-Paragraph Essay

• Function Expressing past regrets.
• You failed a job interview, write regretting the
  mistakes you made.
• What past events have negatively affected your
  countrys progress? How things would be
  different if these events hadnt taken place?

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Three-Paragraph Essay

• Function Giving belated advice and suggestions
• How could the present economic crisis facing the
  world have been avoided?
• Function Describing problems and giving
  recommendations
• What is the most serious problem facing your
  country these days? Give practical solutions for
  this problem.

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Paragraph Writing Rubric

• Four Point Scale
• Content
• Organization
• Mechanics
• Grammar Vocabulary

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Formal/Informal Letter Rubric

• Four Point Scale
• Format for formal/informal letter
• Information
• Grammar, punctuation, and word choice
• Style, tone and audience

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Three-Paragraph Essay Rubric

• Four Point Scale
• Content
• Organization and style
• Grammar and vocabulary
• Mechanics

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Short Report Rubric

• Four Point Scale
• Topic Organization
• Grammar Spelling
• Content Information
• Vocabulary

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Rubric for Writing Resumes

• Four Point Scale
• Format layout
• Style
• Content

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Upper Intermediate Learners

• Practice paragraph writing.
• Write formal letters for the workplace.
• Write informal letters for friends/family.
• Practice three-paragraph essays on a variety of
  social, cultural and workplace oriented topics.

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Advanced Level Learners

• Practice three-paragraph essays on a variety of
  social, cultural and workplace oriented topics.
• Practice writing resumes, CVs, and job
  descriptions.
• Practice writing short reports related to the
  workplace.