Assessing Writing, Teaching Writers

Many writing teachers are searching for a better way to turn student writing into teaching and learning opportunities without being crushed under the weight of student papers. This book introduces a rubric designed by the National Writing Project—the Analytic Writing Continuum (AWC)—that is making its way into classrooms across the country at all grade levels. The authors use sample student writing and multiple classroom scenarios to illustrate how teachers have adapted this flexible tool to meet the needs of their students, including using the AWC to teach revision, give feedback, direct peer-to-peer response groups, and serve as a formative assessment guide. This resource also discusses how to set up a local scoring session and how to use the AWC in professional development.

Book Features:

• Introduces teachers to a powerful assessment system and teaching tool to support student writing achievement.
• Offers a diagnostic tool for guiding students toward a common understanding of the qualities of good writing.
• Provides ideas for helping students learn from models and give productive feedback to peers.
• Illustrates ways to adjust the AWC to various grade levels and different teaching goals.

Mary Ann Smith directed the Bay Area and California Writing Projects and served as director of Government Relations and Public Affairs for the National Writing Project. She is coauthor of Uncommonly Good Ideas: Teaching Writing in the Common Core Era. Sherry Seale Swain directed the Mississippi Writing/Thinking Institute before joining the National Writing Project as senior research associate.

"Smith and Swain have provided a wonderfully practical book for teachers who are looking for a useful guide for writing and it has presented the literacy community with a promising tool that demystifies the writing process for both students and teachers."

—Teachers College Record

"This relatively short volume is one of the most important books on writing assessment to be published in this century. Its emphasis on classroom research by teachers is both timely and vital for the integrity of writing research."

—Assessing Writing

"This book will be your thinking partner and travel companion on a journey toward more effective teaching and assessing, and will be a lever for thinking partnership with colleagues and students."
—From the Foreword by Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Distinguished Professor of English Education, Boise State University and author of "You Gotta BE the Book"

"Smith and Swain reveal how the Analytic Writing Continuum assessment tool can be used as a catalyst for a deeper understanding of writing and a source for a common language for teaching and learning writing. I would recommend this book to all involved in the process of English language arts curriculum and instruction."
—Jessica Early, Director of English Education, Arizona State University

"As a teacher of diverse students in myriad grades, I've found the Analytic Writing Continuum to be an invaluable tool. Assessing Writing, Teaching Writers explains in easy-to-follow terms how the AWC helps teachers and students analyze writing and make thoughtful decisions about both writing instruction and production. If you teach writing, you need this book!"
—Bob Crongeyer, codirector, Area 3 Writing Project at UC Davis; Member, NAEP Writing Standing Committee