Improving Student Writing Skills - cse crafts

Assessment and the Traits of Good Writing
• Topic
In allowing students to write about authentic topics, you
will undoubtedly read papers you don’t like. Perhaps students
will express political or social views with which
you disagree. On the other hand, a student may pull at
your heartstrings with a topic to which you relate or that
evokes sympathy, such as difficult family circumstances.
In both cases, try to score the writing independently
of the topic. However, if a paper stirs emotions in you,
perhaps the paper has, in fact, succeeded in doing so due
to content.
• Inappropriate Content
Even in Authentic Writing, there are limits to what
is acceptable in the classroom. Before giving students
free reign, you will need to define your level of comfort
with profanity, violence, intolerance, and writing that is
designed to make others feel bad, and you will need to
share your views with the class. Your school or district
may have specific policies regarding inappropriate content.
Depending on the severity, you may ask for revisions
before assessing the work or, if school policy supports
you, refuse to give credit for inappropriate work.
However, strong language or violent scenes are sometimes
appropriate to describe events, and while you may
not like the way something is said, vulgarity will likely
not affect traits such as organization. You may need to
separate your opinion from the grading scale. When in
doubt, take refuge in the scoring guide and in the policies
of your district.
• Low in the Stack
By the time you reach your 30th paper of the evening,
the thought of a cup of tea and a soft pillow can make
you rush through your remaining assignments. While
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