A study of college students' (n=98) writing strategies and instructors' essay evaluation strategies revealed that time spent on the essay, number of books used, number of references cited, and proportion of research-based content in the essays influenced grading. However, students emphasized content and instructors emphasized argument. (Author/MSE)

Discusses the dearth of material concerning how A-level boards assess British students' economics essays. Describes the practices of the Joint Matriculation Board (JMB) in grading papers on various subjects. Reveals how the London Board grades advanced level economics papers. Includes a chart showing London Board grading criteria. (SG)

Offers six descriptions from middle school, high school, and college teachers regarding how they handle grading and evaluation in the reading/writing workshop. (SR)

Acquaints readers with music education research journals and summarizes recent research on instructional techniques, factors influencing performance, grading systems, and broad lines of inquiry. One study showed that students perceiving greater involvement, affiliation, teacher support, and organization tended to receive better music contest…

Argues that adapting Robert Scholes's categories of reading, interpretation, and criticism for the performance studies classroom requires changes in evaluation practices. Uses Scholes's theory to describes alternate types of performance activities. Presents an example of classroom practice through which students learn to participate in the…

A Russian scholar anticipating language difficulties in teaching a seminar on the former Soviet Union in the United States used journal writing to improve communication. It was found that the journals helped monitor student attention and comprehension and was useful in adjusting teaching strategies to student styles and abilities. (MSE)

Describes a method that writing instructors can use for evaluating and commenting on college students' composition papers that uses a stand-alone word processor. Software is discussed, the instructor's role is explained, methods of evaluation and marking papers are suggested, and electronic grading is described. (three references) (LRW)

Asserts that feminist pedagogy is compatible in many ways with current composition theory. Shows how feminist pedagogy can offer an alternative perspective on the problems of evaluating student text. Includes results of the author's research into the evaluation process. (PRA)

A culture of testing permeates schools. Many teachers cannot separate instruction/instructional improvement from outcome measures designed for accountability. The article discusses the effects of standardized testing and examines a study of teachers' beliefs and practices concerning reading comprehension instruction that indicates accountability…

A discussion of the use of computerized spreadsheets for recording and analyzing college students' grades looks at a variety of issues of concern in any evaluation situation (data collection and control, allocating grades, checking consistency, analyzing relationships between items of assessment and grades), and illustrate them with examples from…

Two experiments with a total of 163 college students found (1) student ratings of college faculty were directly affected by grading practices (strict/lenient) and of the time ratings were completed (after lecture, examination, or feedback on exam); and (2) student learning and faculty ratings were positively correlated, and grading practices had…

Reports on a study of 91 psychology faculty who rated each of 39 extra-credit opportunities on 3 criteria: (1) their use of the item; (2) its educational value; and (3) the likelihood that all students would be able to complete the opportunity (access). Finds that approximately 82% used some form of extra-credit assignment. (CFR)

Comparison of problem preferences of six meaning-oriented and five number-oriented junior high school students found that the successful meaning-oriented students preferred solving multistep and nonroutine problems, whereas the less successful number-oriented students preferred simple routine problems. However, in graded situations all students…

College-level student inquiry projects are not easy to evaluate within the parameters of the academic grading system. One form of rubric-guided assessment has specific advantages in addressing both performance and product by allowing weighting of criteria, flexibility of criteria and standards based on the project, defining the major aspects of…

A study of 15 high school students with learning disabilities and 257 typical students found no grading adaptation was viewed as fair by a majority of students without disabilities. Changing the grading scale and raising grades to reflect improvement were viewed as fair adaptations by the students with disabilities. (CR)