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Having a certain degree of assessment literacy is crucial for today's language teachers. The main aim of this paper is to provide that knowledge as it pertains to the writing skill. More specifically, the purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the main practical issues that teachers often face when evaluating the written work of their students. It will consider issues and solutions in five major areas: test design; test administration; ways to assess writing; feedback to students; and the effects on pedagogy.

The author took a very practical and principled approach to the complete process of assessing the written work of our students in a foreign or second language.

The cyclical relationship between teaching and assessment can be made entirely positive provided that the assessment is based on sound principles and procedures. Both teaching and assessment should relate to the learners' goals and very frequently to institutional goals.

Good teachers spend a lot of time ensuring that their writing assessment practices are valid and reliable. The author deals with the fundamental issues that underlie good test design in a very practical and understandable way and later suggests practical steps to ensure smooth and reliable test administration before dealing with ways to assess a range of different writing tasks. Then, the crucial issue of how best to provide useful developmental feedback to students is considered. She concludes by discussing how best testing practice should seek to accommodate the requirements of test takers.

This topic is significant as assessing foreign/second language writing skills is one of the most problematic areas in language testing. It is made even more important because good writing ability is very much sought after by higher education institutions and employers.

This study aims to explore and provide empirical evidence for ways that teachers can simultaneously support students’ literary reading and analytic writing through dialogic assessment, an approach to conferencing with writers that foregrounds process and integrates assessment and instruction.

This study uses qualitative research methods of three high school teachers’ dialogic assessment sessions with individual students to investigate how these teachers both assessed and taught literary reading moves as they observed and supported the students’ writing. An expanded version of Rainey’s (2017) scheme for coding literary reading practices was used.

The three teachers varied in the range and extent of literary reading practices they taught and supported. The practices that they most commonly modeled or otherwise supported were making claims, seeking patterns and articulating puzzles. The variation we observed in their literary reading practices may be attributed to institutional characteristics of the teachers’ contexts.

This study illustrates how the concept of prolepsis can be productively used as a lens through which to understand teachers’ instructional choices.

The descriptive findings show how individualized coaching of students’ writing about literature can also support literary reading. Teachers of English need not worry that they have to choose between teaching writing and teaching reading.

This study presents dialogic assessment as a useful way to guide students through the writing process and literary interpretation simultaneously.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the interface between high-stakes testing, disciplinary knowledge and teachers’ pedagogy in English. The most prevalent standardized assessment form in the current Australian context is the National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) undertaken each year by students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 in all Australian States and Territories. Understood in the context of the Global Educational Reform Movement (GERM) (Sahlberg, 2011, pp. 100-101) – the NAPLAN tests serve as a bi-partisan governmental response to a perceived need to improve the quality of teachers and schools in Australia.

The authors draw on the key sociological constructs of Pierre Bourdieu (1995) to analyze the ways in which the writing component of the suite of NAPLAN tests serves to legitimize and idealize particular kinds of writing, writers and teachers of writing.

The authors suggest that in the absence of current literacy policy and curriculum instability, this national test shapes the literacy field, influencing the direction of writing practices and pedagogy, and, therefore, subject English itself, in Australian classrooms.

This assessment intervention is considered in the context of the history of writing, and addresses accordingly fundamental questions concerning the changing nature of the writing/writerly field, the impact of assessment on teachers’ conceptions of disciplinarity and pedagogical content knowledge and students’ experiences of writing and thinking in subject English.

This paper aims to investigate elementary students’ writing experiences using a digital writing application and compares the results to the findings and recommendations of a national survey on instructional practices in writing.

Mixed methods were used to assess the quantity and quality of P-5 public school students’ writing over time. Teacher, librarian and student perceptions and experiences were examined and compared to the results and recommendations from a national survey on writing.

This paper provides empirical insights into the use of a digital writing application in writing instruction. Findings showed the use of a digital writing application: significantly increased the quantity and improved the quality of student writing; excited and motivated students to write; extended the learning day so more time was spent on writing; and supported students of special populations. Comparison to the recommendations of the national survey showed five of seven recommendations were not met in this study.

Because of the chosen research approach, the research results may lack generalizability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to conduct further investigations.

The paper includes implications for writing instruction using digital applications for teachers, librarians and educators in pre-service teacher and school librarian preparation programs.

Considering limited growth in national writing scores and the transition to online writing assessments by 2019, this paper addresses the need to integrate technology into writing instruction and offers practical strategies for doing so.

This paper asserts that while educational resources are times effective in teaching students how to write, the format in which they are delivered can influence results. With this in mind, this study aims to examine the effectiveness of using educational resources in a blended format.

This study used a mixed-method research design to elicit information from 70 participants recruited for this study. The researcher divided the participants into experimental and control groups where the researcher taught the control group writing skills in a hybrid learning environment without using educational resources while the experimental group used blended interactive educational resources. The researcher analyzed and interpreted the participants’ post-test scores and transcripts of the interviewees.

This study finds that blended interactive educational resources contribute significantly toward improving the students' writing skills; however, improvements were not found in all aspects of their writing.

This study unpacks the positive contributions of blended interactive educational resources in writing instruction. This study contributes to educational literature in showing that these resources may be effective in improving some aspects of writing text. This study adds to other corpora of studies that emphasize the importance of using educational resources for learning.

In spite of the growing interest in using corpora in language teaching and learning, applying computers and software (especially corpora software) is still new in second language teaching and learning. In addition, employing a learner corpus-based perspective in teaching metadiscourse features in International English Language Testing System (IELTS) writing tasks is not reported to the best knowledge of the researchers. Understanding and spotting this gap, the purpose of this paper is to utilize a learner corpus-based approach in teaching metadiscourse features and investigate its possible impacts on IELTS writing performance of the Iranian second language learners. Therefore, this study addressed the following research questions and hypotheses.

The current research utilized a quasi-experimental research design. In addition, this research used a learner corpus-based methodology. The corpus-based methodology was exploited to enable the researchers to have access to a large body of authentic language materials. In other words, a corpus-based methodology was used due to the fact that it made it possible for the researchers to elicit the metadiscourse features from a large number of authentic writing materials and to employ them during the treatment process with authentic examples.

The findings showed that there was a positive correlation between teaching metadiscourse features and writing performance of IELTS learners; in that, teaching metadiscourse features could soar the writing performance of the subjects. In addition, interactional metadiscourse features had more impact than interactive metadiscourse features on writing performance.

The results of this research can have useful implications for second language teachers and learners as well as researchers in learner corpus as they can learn the creation and application of learner corpora in second language teaching and learning.

This paper is value in that it uses corpus software and methodology in teaching metadiscourse features in writing section of IELTS test.

The Flemish Examination Centre designed an intervention to establish a professional learning community on the topic of writing assessment. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of this intervention and explain how this intervention succeeded in establishing a professional learning community.

A mixed method design was used to answer the research questions. Quantitative analysis of comparative judgement data provided insight into the effects of the intervention. More specifically was analysed whether examiners judged more in line after the intervention. Qualitative analysis of the conversations within the intervention served to examine how interdependent examiners behaved in the professionalisation exercises and to gain insight into how a professional learning community was established.

The analysis showed that the intervention of the Flemish Examination Centre facilitated the formation of a professional learning community. This was visible in the quantitative analysis. The qualitative analysis showed that highly interdependent activities were helpful in establishing the professional learning community.

This study shows that interactions of high interdependence are beneficial to facilitate professional learning communities.

This study shows that the assessment data can guide a well-thought out design of interventions to establish professional learning communities among assessors. Assessment data can be a guidance for supportive group constellations and discussions to improve assessment practices. The key in this regard lies in the level of interdependence that is created among participants.

The purpose of this paper is to examine how the teachers implemented innovative feedback approaches in their writing classroom and the extent to which the innovative feedback approaches impacted upon student attitude and performance in writing. In the writing classroom, teacher feedback serves as an assessment as well as a pedagogical tool to enhance the teaching and learning of writing. While there is no shortage of literature on the topic of feedback per se, there is scant research on teachers’ attempts to implement change to conventional feedback practices, as well as the impact of such feedback innovation on student learning. Drawing on data gathered from individual teacher interviews, student questionnaires, student focus group interviews, pre-and post-writing tests and classroom observations, this study seeks to explore two teachers’ change initiative in their writing feedback approaches.

The study used multiple sources of data including individual teacher interviews, student questionnaires and student focus group.

The results suggest that the innovative feedback approaches helped to enhance the motivation and writing performance of the students. The paper concludes with implications and insights to help teachers implement similar feedback innovations in their contexts.

First, the findings suggest that focused written corrective feedback is a viable option for responding to student writing, especially for low proficiency students in English as a foreign language (EFL) contexts. Second, teachers might consider the option of removal or delay in the reporting of scores, where appropriate. Third, more intensive training might be necessary to help students improve their peer evaluation skills and their ability to write more constructive comments for their peers.

The significance of the study lies in the contribution it can make to existing writing feedback research that pays insufficient attention to teacher feedback in real classroom contexts, uncovering the process through which teachers attempt to bring improvement to conventional feedback practices, as well as the impact of feedback innovation on student learning in naturally occurring classroom contexts.

This paper aims to present a tool for helping the mindset organization of graduate students and early career researchers in the process of scientific papers writing. The canvas roadmap is proposed and summarizes the fundamental steps and main features of an academic paper in the business management field.

The adopted methodological procedures followed action research and focus groups precepts. Validation was applied in longitudinal and transversal procedures, with two early career researchers and with three groups of graduate students from different institutions. The validation procedures allowed the identification of 15 main features that were structured in a canvas format.

The conception of the canvas roadmap, influenced by the business model canvas, is a tool for easing researchers’ mindset when preparing a manuscript. Each of 15 features are explored according to main identified components along the paper writing process. Advices for early researchers are addressed, and key characteristics are presented. Further readings in academic writing literature are suggested as along with practical tips for developing the manuscript.

Specifically, the canvas roadmap proposal intends to guide Iberoamerican/Latin American scholars to achieve their goals of publishing in top tier journals, relevant to their academic careers, and to improve research outcomes through a structured guidance for crafting scientific papers.

As main contribution and novelty, this paper intends to provide a canvas roadmap by identifying the main sections a scientific paper in the Business Management field must follow, and how to address specific features when writing these sections. This tool was conceived due the Business Management field needs a faster-to-address and easy-to-use tool and that summarizes main features of academic papers.

Este artículo tiene como objetivo presentar una herramienta para ayudar a la organización de la mentalidad de los estudiantes de postgrados y los investigadores de carrera temprana en el proceso de redacción de artículos científicos. El mapa canvas es propuesto y resume los pasos fundamentales y las principales características de un artículo académico en el campo de la Gestión Empresarial.

Los procedimientos metodológicos adoptados siguieron los preceptos de la investigación-acción y los grupos focales. La validación se aplicó en procedimientos longitudinales y transversales, con dos investigadores en carrera inicial y con tres grupos de estudiantes de postgrados de diferentes instituciones. Los procedimientos de validación permitieron identificar quince características principales que se estructuraron en formato canvas.

La concepción del mapa canvas, influenciada por el modelo canvas para los modelos de negocios, es una herramienta para facilitar la mentalidad de los investigadores al preparar un manuscrito. Cada una de las quince características se explora de acuerdo con los principales componentes identificados a lo largo del proceso de escritura de los manuscritos. Se abordan consejos para los investigadores tempranos y se presentan las características clave. Se sugieren lecturas adicionales de literatura académica, así como consejos prácticos para desarrollar el manuscrito.

Como principal aporte y novedad, este artículo pretende proporcionar un mapa canvas identificando las principales secciones que debe seguir un artículo científico en el campo de la Gestión Empresarial y cómo abordar las características específicas al escribir estas secciones. Esta herramienta fue concebida debido al campo de la Gestión Empresarial necesitar una herramienta más rápida de abordar y fácil de usar y que resume las principales características de los artículos académicos.

Específicamente, la propuesta del mapa canvas pretende orientar a los académicos iberoamericanos/latinoamericanos para lograr sus objetivos de publicación en revistas de primer nivel, relevantes para sus carreras académicas, y mejorar los resultados de la investigación a través de una guía estructurada para la elaboración de artículos científicos.

Este artigo tem como objetivo apresentar uma ferramenta que ajude a organizar a mentalidade de alunos de pós-graduação e pesquisadores em início de carreira no processo de redação de artigos científicos. O mapa canvas é proposto e sintetiza as etapas fundamentais e as principais características de um artigo acadêmico da área de Administração e Negócios.

Os procedimentos metodológicos adotados seguiram os preceitos da pesquisa-ação e dos grupos focais. A validação foi aplicada em procedimentos longitudinais e transversais, com dois pesquisadores em início de carreira e com três turmas de alunos de pós-graduação de instituições diferentes. Os procedimentos de validação permitiram identificar quinze características principais que foram estruturadas em formato canvas.

A concepção do mapa canvas, influenciada pelo modelo de negócios canvas, é uma ferramenta para facilitar a mentalidade dos pesquisadores na preparação de um artigo. Cada uma das quinze características é explorada de acordo com os principais componentes identificados ao longo do processo de redação dos artigos. Abordam-se dicas para pesquisadores iniciantes e apresentam-se características principais. Sugere-se leitura adicional da literatura acadêmica, bem como dicas práticas para o desenvolvimento do artigo.

Como principal contribuição e novidade, este artigo visa fornecer um mapa canvas identificando as principais seções que um artigo científico deve seguir na área de Administração e Negócios e como abordar as características específicas na redação destas seções. Essa ferramenta foi concebida devido à área de Administração e Negócios necessitar de uma ferramenta de abordagem mais rápida e fácil de usar e que sintetiza as principais características dos artigos acadêmicos.

Especificamente, a proposta do mapa canvas visa orientar os acadêmicos ibero-americanos/latino-americanos a atingirem seus objetivos de publicação em periódicos de alto nível, relevantes para suas carreiras acadêmicas, e a melhorar os resultados da pesquisa por meio de um guia estruturado para a preparação de artigos científicos.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of a year-long writing intervention located in an urban high school in partnership with a university teacher education professor and the students. The goals were as follows: to increase student self-efficacy about writing overall; to increase the number of students who successfully improve scores on writing assessments; and to increase ACT exam scores, making students more qualified candidates for college admission.

The main method used for the research is a quantitative longitudinal study method, which involves collecting from each student, at pre-intervention and post-intervention, a writing sample. There are 54 students in the study.

Findings showed an increase in student proficiency overall, with an increase of 0.53 holistically. Effective writing instruction asks students to write often to develop their writing will and skill. There are many more factors beyond the teaching of “ACT prep” writing skills that must be considered, particularly when teaching marginalized groups. This study found that the following are important: building and sustaining positive rapport; using their language as part of the learning process; creating space for students to write regularly; writing on a variety of topics; reflecting on and monitoring their writing; and receiving timely and targeted feedback.

This paper discusses the impact of the writing intervention and describes the practices that were a part of the intervention for marginalized students in an urban school to increase their writing scores.