Grading students' written work poses a dilemma for educators at all levels. What system and criteria should be used to serve the two-fold purpose of encouraging the improvement of students' writing and documenting writing proficiency abilities? In Alternatives to Grading Student Writing, the reader is asked to consider a variety of alternatives for evaluating students' writing, "in ways sensitive to the needs of students as well as institutions" (p. 307).
These essays reflect a wide range of views toward evaluation of writing from the perspectives of bilingual, Spanish-speaking students, undergraduates, parents, and undergraduate and graduate faculty As we read the essays, we were struck by the almost unanimous opinion that writing assessment is most successful and helpful if multiple measures are used, as well as strategies that actively involve the student writers. One particularly amusing essay highlighting the arbitrary nature of reading opens with a novice faculty member who is asked to articulate the difference between an A- and B+. The text provides readers with practical ideas to consider, and strategies that could be used in making thoughtful and equitable decisions related to students' written work.
Jean S. Ketter and Judith W Hunter's piece emphasizes the key focus of assessment when they state: "We define assessment as feedback intended to shape a student's performance to meet clearly established and expressed criteria. Thus we view assessment as communication, not as judgement, not as a method of sorting students" (p. 104).
All reviewers agreed that kudos should be given to Stephen Tchudi for editing an absolutely superb work that brings together some of the best thinking on alternatives to the grading of student writing. Beginning with a solid theoretical base, the editor makes a strong case for a revolution in teacher assessment of writing across the curriculum. The evidence is clear that grading, as it is most frequently practiced, neither improves the poor writer's skills nor challenges the more talented student writer.
