Assessing+Writing

As Carl Anderson writes in //Assessing Writers//, " Writing assessment is often equated with reading through a set of finished pieces of writing, usually during a prep period or at home on the weekend, separate from the day-to-day activities of a writing workshop. I equate assessment with gathering information about students as writers. To gather this information, we must not only read student writing but also observe students at work and talk with them about their writing in conferences. And the only way for us to be able to gather information about students in all these ways is to assess them when they’re in writing workshop" (Anderson, 2).

Most writing professors will assess a students writing during every class or with the submission of a new work. Professors do this to have an idea of how the student's writing skills are evolving throughout a period of time. By assessing our writing, not only do the professors get a first hand look at our work, but they learn about your writing style, skills and techniques. This is very advantageous because this professor now has the ability to help you improve your writing in your areas of weakness as well as hone in on your specialties.

To ensure successful writing on a specific task, be sure to have a proper time management plan, have a clear understanding of the writing prompt and be sure to submit your writing to a colleague for review.

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By Kiran Kaur