Authentic Writing Assessment / Carmen Chapman.

Some of the ways authentic writing assessment can be used in education are discussed. Using the Illinois Writing Program (IWP) as an example, this digest also looks at some of the goals, solutions, and experiences of a program that is implementing authentic writing assessment. New directions in authentic assessment are aimed at going beyond writing as an isolated subject unto itself by integrating writing into the teaching of all subject areas, including science and mathematics. An authentic writing assignment should reflect various types of writing as well as levels of complexity related to the task assigned in the assignment's prompt. An increasingly popular format is portfolio assessment, in which students complete a body of writing over a prolonged period of time. The IWP was designed to represent defined writing skills as well as status and growth; verify that the methods used to construct, conduct, and verify the assessment meet technical standards; and implement an informational network to allow classroom and district personnel to use test results to improve instruction. Criteria for the rating system concentrate on the paper's maintenance of a compositional focus, the use of supportive arguments, organization, and use of conventional English. The assessment also produces a focused holistic score on integration, which reflects how well the composition as a whole accomplishes the assignment. Teacher involvement in the program is fostered via workshops, provided to over 1,000 teachers during the program's 5-year history. A five-item list of additional reading materials is included. (TJH)

Microfiche. [Washington D.C.]: ERIC Clearinghouse microfiches : positive.