Review

Assessing Writing

Introduction
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
Lesson 4
- Feedback vs. Grading
- Content vs. Accuracy
- Types of Scoring
- Portfolio Assessment
- Editing
- Review and Reflect
Conclusion
Portfolio
Resources

1. The difference between feedback and grading is that

feedback includes only positive comments to encourage the development of writing.

feedback focuses on the writing process, whereas grading usually assigns a value to a piece of writing.

grading has very clear guidelines as to what students are expected to write.

feedback is less time-consuming for instructors because it is holistic.

2. Research has found that when giving feedback it is more effective (i.e., leads to more improvements in writing) if

the feedback first focuses on content then accuracy.

feedback is based on previously shared evaluation criteria (i.e., hand out your grading criteria when you hand out the assignment!).

the instructor views feedback as a means to help students improve writing (as part of a longer process) rather than a grade with which to evaluate the student.

all of the above

3. Giving students feedback on their paper regarding both content and accuracy is most compatible with:

holistic scoring

analytic scoring

primary trait scoring

any of the other three, it depends how you use the grading criteria

4. The primary purpose of a facilitative comment is:

to engage learners in the revision process and improve writing skills (over time).

to make the students feel happy about their written work and not feel bad about their mistakes.

to help the instructors think differently about their teaching.

to find out what the student really meant.

Clear Answers

Reflect

Using a recent writing assignment from your class, try out giving feedback both on content and accuracy. Share with a colleague what kinds of feedback on writing encouraged content revisions and which ones encouraged (only) formal revisions.

Continue