Assessing the Writing Product: Qualitative and Quantitative Measures

Abstract

Assessment of writing skills must focus on the writing product in order to satisfy four educational functions: identifying unsuccessful writers, planning instruction, monitoring student progress, and giving feedback. Within the last 25 years, various researchers have tested the validity of simple direct measures that correspond to five important aspects of the writing product: fluency, content, conventions, syntax, and vocabulary. Measures for each of these components, both qualitative and quantitative, are discussed.