CASAS Writing Assessment

PLAYExplanation of CASAS Writing Assessment Audio: Welcome to the WITCC , ESL Learning Classroom. I am C.A.T., your computerized, animated tutor. Today we will be exploring the CASAS Functional Writing Assessment. The opening video has been created and can be played from this slide. Roll your cursor over the PLAY arrow.1

Welcome to the WITCC ESL Learning Classroom!

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Audio: As we begin, I would like to quickly discuss the navigational icons. These are found in the bottom, right corner of each slide. The arrow keys allow you to move forward or backward one page. The pause button allows you to pause instruction. The home button takes you back to the start of the course. The information button will bring up information about the course. Answers to the most frequently asked questions can be found there. Press the Forward arrow now to move on to the next screen.3

Audio: At Western Iowa Tech, the achievement of our ESL students is extremely important. Our goal is to prepare our students as thoroughly as possible to be well-adjusted members of our community and to prepare them for further education and/or success in the workplace.

4OverviewClick to play

Describe the writing assessmentIdentify the 5 components of evaluationAnalyze the rubricDetermine types of student information from the assessments

Audio (provided) 2:50 seconds5The CASAS Functional Writing AssessmentPerformance Based

Standardized

Audio: The CASAS Functional Writing Assessment is a performance-based, standardized assessment that is used to inform state officials of program effectiveness and informs the teaching and learning process. 6Use

To assess student writing skills in: FunctionalWorkplaceEmployabilityLife Skills Context

For Instructors of:ESL ABEASE

Audio: It provides teachers of English as a second language with a tool to assess their students writing skills in a functional, workplace, employability, and life skills context.

7Analytical rubric identifies five components:ContentOrganizationWord choiceGrammar and sentence structureSpelling, capitalization, and punctuation

Audio: The analytical rubric identifies five components: content; organization; word choice; grammar and sentence structure; and spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. 8Scoring Rubric:

Shows learners strengths and weaknesses

Helps instructors determine the focus of instruction

Audio: Rubrics are used to interpret scores and to report results to students or others. The scores are determined for each individual category and then combined. A major advantage of this approach is that the test performance from each of the categories in the rubric may be looked at individually, providing diagnostic information about learners strengths and weaknesses in writing each of the 5 components. This information provides specific assistance to instructors to determine the focus of instruction.

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Scoring Rubric:Weighted categories

Content x 5Organization x 3Word Choice x 3Grammar and Sentence Structure x 2Spelling, Capitalization, and Punctuation x 1

Audio: Each rubric category is weighted. These weighting values were developed by a panel of experts familiar with writing instruction for ABE and adult ESL learners. Scores for each category receive the following "weightings". The content score is taken x 5organization x 3word choice x 3grammar and sentence structure x 2spelling/capitalization/punctuation x 1These are then computed for a total weighted score.

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Audio: Score Interpretation for the CASAS Functional Writing Assessment is a score range resulting in assessment takers being assigned a level.

For 0 - 13 points, a student is placed at Level 0.For 14 - 27 points, a student is placed at Level 1.For 28 - 41 points, Level 2For 42 - 55 points, Level 356 - 69 points, level 4And 70 points places the student at level 5.11

1. The CASAS Functional Writing Assessment is used by: A.) State officialsB.) ESL/ABE/ASE instructorsC.) Both A. and B.D.) None of the above

2. The assessment provides information about:A.) Program effectivenessB.) Student writing abilitiesC.) Instructional needsD.) All of the above

Review Questions

Audio: Now that we have covered the particular components of the CASAS Writing Exam, lets check what weve learned. Read the following questions and choose A, B, C, or D. Press check when you are done to see how you did. You may navigate back into the module to review material at any time.After pressing check, students will be given an explanation of correct and incorrect answers.

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3. Identify the five components of the CASAS Functional Writing Assessment: A.) Paragraphs, spacing, tone, expression and continuity. B.) Content, organization, word choice, grammar and sentence structure, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. C.) Nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, participles. D.) Past, present, and future.

Review Questions

Read the following questions and choose A, B, C, or D. Press check when you are done to see how you did.13

4. Each of the five components of the writing assessment is givenequal weight in the final score.A.) True B.) False

5. The rubric provides diagnostic information about learners strengths and weaknesses in each of the 5 components. A.) True B.) False Review QuestionsCheck

Read the following questions and choose A, B, C, or D. Press check when you are done to see how you did.

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Well done everyone! This concludes our ELL Writing I - Explanation of CASAS Writing Assessment module. Congratulations!15