Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
PIONEER AND INNOVATIVE STUDIES IN EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES, Doç. Dr. Yavuz Değirmenci, Editör, All Sciences Academy, Konya, ss.25-40, 2024
Writing is widely recognized as one of the most challenging skills to
master in foreign language (FL) learning, which makes its assessment critically
important for both educators and students alike. To truly foster students'
writing abilities, it is essential for writing instructors to implement
effective evaluation methods that navigate the often subjective nature of
writing assessments. Traditionally, writing evaluations have focused
predominantly on the final products and students' performance outcomes. This is
particularly evident in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) contexts, where
assessment has largely taken on a summative role. In this framework, educators
assign writing tasks, provide input on grammar and vocabulary, and ultimately
deliver feedback based solely on students’ final submissions, limiting their
role to that of an evaluator. However, this approach overlooks the rich
potential for development inherent in the writing process. This study aims to
revolutionize the assessment of writing and its subskills, offering a
comprehensive evaluation of EFL students' writing performance. By emphasizing
the potential for significant enhancement of students’ writing capabilities, we
can shift the focus towards a more formative approach. In this endeavor, the
researcher will delve into the theoretical foundations of FL writing and its
subskills, analyze both guided and free writing activities, explore their
interconnections, and discuss their practical applications and pedagogical
implications. Ultimately, this research aspires to provide invaluable insights
that promote effective teaching and assessment strategies for FL writing,
supported by self-explanatory samples. Embracing this holistic perspective on
writing assessment can dramatically transform how educators cultivate and
evaluate writing skills, setting students on a path to success.
Keywords – Testing FL writing, writing subskills,
holistic and analytical scoring