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)