1 The Rights and Wrongs of Assessing Writing Nermin S. Eltorie American University School of Continuing Education English Studies Division

2 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

3 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

4 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

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

6 Paragraph 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?

7 Informal Letter Writing Function: Comparing Jobs 1. 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.

8 Formal 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.

9 Three-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?

10 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.

11 Paragraph Writing Rubric Four Point Scale Content Organization Mechanics Grammar & Vocabulary

12 Formal/Informal Letter Rubric Four Point Scale Format for formal/informal letter Information Grammar, punctuation, and word choice Style, tone and audience

13 Three-Paragraph Essay Rubric Four Point Scale Content Organization and style Grammar and vocabulary Mechanics

14 Short Report Rubric Four Point Scale Topic & Organization Grammar & Spelling Content & Information Vocabulary

15 Rubric for Writing Resumes Four Point Scale Format & layout Style Content

16 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.

17 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.