
ERIC Number: ED336398
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1991
Pages: 180
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Report of Student Performance 1990-1991. Writing, Grades 6 and 8.
Vickers, Daisy
In 1982, writing was added to the North Carolina Annual Testing Program. Results from the 1990-91 writing evaluations in grades 6 and 8 are reported. Tests were read by two readers, with an agreement rate of over 71%. In 1990-91, sixth-grade students were asked to describe a kitchen so that readers could picture it. Quality was determined on the characteristics of: (1) main idea; (2) supporting detail; (3) organization; and (4) coherence. A focused holistic score scale of 1 to 4 was used, with a second independent plus or minus score for the use of standard English conventions. Of the 80,843 sixth graders, 43.1% wrote well enough to score at or above the midpoint of the four-point scale. About 5.2% received a score of 3.5 or 4.0, and 23.3% received a score of 1.0 or 1.5. Eighth graders were required to take a position on violence on television. There were 79,568 compositions, and about 54.8% scored at or above the midpoint. About 8.1% received a score of 4.0 or 3.5, and about 8.7% received a score of 1.0 or 1.5. Writing scores declined in both grades. Results are presented in 10 tables for individual school districts and 22 bar graphs for the state as a whole. An appendix provides extensive tabulated statistics from the 1990-91 writing assessment. (SLD)
Descriptors: Elementary School Students, English, Essay Tests, Grade 6, Grade 8, Graphs, Intermediate Grades, Junior High Schools, School Districts, Scores, State Programs, Student Evaluation, Tables (Data), Test Results, Testing Programs, Writing Achievement, Writing (Composition), Writing Evaluation, Writing Tests
Publication Type: Numerical/Quantitative Data; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: North Carolina State Dept. of Public Instruction, Raleigh. Div. of Accountability Services/Research.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A