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The Rights and Wrongs of The Rights and Wrongs of Assessing Writing Assessing Writing

Nermin S. Eltorie (nersaleh@aucegypt.edu)

American University

School of Continuing Education

English Studies Division

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Introduction 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)English Studies Division (ESD)CurriculaCurricula

Communicatively based instructionCulturally based orientationFunction based languageWorkplace oriented topicsGeneral English courses (13 Levels)Novice - Elementary - Intermediate -

Advanced

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Language SkillsLanguage 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 Writing

Function Based Writing:Describing qualitiesComparing jobsMaking requestsWriting about the pastWriting about culture and customsDescribing and solving problems

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Paragraph WritingParagraph Writing

Function: Describing Qualities:

1. What kind of boss would you like to have?

2. Your company needs a computer programmer. What qualities do you think they should have?

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Informal Letter WritingInformal Letter Writing

Function: Comparing Jobs1. 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.

2. 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 WritingFormal Letter Writing

Function: Explaining customs and habits.

1. Your business associate is paying a working visit to your country for the first time. Write a letter explaining your country’s business and social culture.

2. A foreigner is visiting your country for the first time. Write to him/her about the do’s and don’ts of your culture.

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Three-Paragraph EssayThree-Paragraph Essay

Function: Expressing past regrets.

1. You failed a job interview, write regretting the mistakes you made.

2. What past events have negatively affected your country’s progress? How things would be different if these events hadn’t taken place?

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Three-Paragraph Essay Three-Paragraph Essay

Function: Giving belated advice and suggestions:

1. How could the present economic crisis facing the world have been avoided?

Function: Describing problems and giving recommendations:

1. What is the most serious problem facing your country these days? Give practical solutions for this problem.

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Paragraph Writing RubricParagraph Writing Rubric

Four Point Scale

ContentOrganizationMechanicsGrammar & Vocabulary

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Formal/Informal Letter RubricFormal/Informal Letter Rubric

Four Point Scale

Format for formal/informal letterInformationGrammar, punctuation, and word choiceStyle, tone and audience

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Three-Paragraph Essay RubricThree-Paragraph Essay Rubric

Four Point Scale

ContentOrganization and styleGrammar and vocabularyMechanics

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Short Report RubricShort Report Rubric

Four Point Scale

Topic & OrganizationGrammar & SpellingContent & InformationVocabulary

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Rubric for Writing ResumesRubric for Writing Resumes

Four Point Scale

Format & layoutStyleContent

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Upper Intermediate Upper Intermediate LearnersLearners

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 LearnersAdvanced 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.