Assessment of writing ability for LF 112
For the LA Faculty Cohort
Anne-Marie Bourbon
Spring 2011
During the spring 2011 semester, twelve students attending one course of LF112,
beginning French II were assessed. They were tested for: completion of the task,
comprehensibility of their writing, level of discourse, correctness of vocabulary,
grammar accuracy, and mechanics as per the rubric attached. (Appendix 1)
A.
First assignment: Students were asked to write one essay in French as per the
writing assignment attached. (Appendix 2)
Results
The data of 12 students who completed the written assessment in French was
gathered. The results are as follows:
Table 1:
SCORING SHEET‐ LF 112 General Performance in Each Category
Task completion 4 Maximum score Average # of Students Comprehensibility Level of Discourse
Vocabulary
Grammar
Mechanics Total
4 4
4
4
4 24
3.42 3.00 2.67
2.25
1.83
1.83 15.00
12 12 12
12
12
12 12
The total points a student could achieve (adding up all six categories) was 24. The scale
agreed upon beforehand by the Assessment Committee defined the following ranges: 16 points= student performance does not meet expectations; 7-12 points= student
performance almost meets expectations; 13-18 points= student performance meets
expectations; 19-24= student performance exceeds expectations.
Table 2:
Range # 0f Students Percentage OVERALL. Student performance ‐ 12 students
Does not meet Almost meets expectations
expectations 1‐6 7‐12 Meets expectations
13‐18 Exceeds expectations 19‐24 0 3 8 1 0% 25% 67% 8% Data indicate that 1 student was writing at a higher level than the one required by the
course, 8 of them were writing at the required level, 3 of them almost met the required
level and none of them did not meet expectations.
2
Table 3
Number of students’ performance in each category:
B.
Levels Task Completion Comprehensibility 4 6 4 3
5
4
2
1
4
1 0 0 Total
12
12
Level of Discourse Vocabulary Grammar Mechanics 1 0 0 0 6
5
1
1
5
5
8
8
0 2 3 3 12
12
12
12
Second assignment: About one month later students were asked to write one essay
in French as per the writing assignment attached. (Appendix 3). The same rubric as for
the first assignment was used.
Results
The data of 12 students was gathered. The results are as follows:
Table 1:
SCORING SHEET‐ LF112 = General Performance in Each Category
Task completion 4 Maximum score Average # of Students Comprehensibility Level of Discourse
Vocabulary
Grammar
Mechanics Total
4 4
4
4
4 24
2.83 2.75 2.46
2.58
2.08
2.21 14.92
12 12
12
12
12
12
12
The total points a student could achieve (adding up all six categories) was 24 as
described above: 1-6 points= student performance does not meet expectations; 7-12
points= student performance almost meets expectations; 13-18 points= student
performance meets expectations; 19-24= student performance exceeds expectations.
Table 2:
Range # 0f Students Percentage OVERALL. Student performance ‐ 31 students
Does not meet Almost meets expectations
expectations 7‐12 1‐6 Meets expectations
13‐18 Exceeds expectations 19‐24 0 4 5 3 0% 33% 42% 25% Data indicate that 3 students were writing at a higher level than the one required by the
course, 5 of them were writing at the required level, 4 of them almost met the required
level and none of them did not meet expectations.
3
Table 3
Number of students’ performance in each category:
Levels Task Completion Comprehensibility Level of Discourse Vocabulary Grammar Mechanics 4 3
2
1 Total
4 3 2 3 1 2 3
4
5
3
2
2
5
4
3
5
7
7
0 1 2 1 2 1 12
12
12
12
12
12
Data shows that more instruction does not determine an overall improvement in
performance. In fact results show a very slight lowering of results between the first and
second assignment:
Average performance for all categories:
First assignment: 15.00 %
Second assignment: 14.92 %
Students’ achievement:
First assignment: 1 student (8 %) exceeded expectations, 8 students (67%) met
expectations, 3 students (25%) almost met expectations, none did not meet
expectations
Second assignment: 3 students (25 %) exceeded expectations, 5 students (42%) met
expectations, 4 students (33%) almost met expectations, none did not meet
expectations
12 students (39%) exceeded expectations. 9 students (29%) met expectations
This might be due to the fact that the four elements of language acquisition (reading,
writing, speaking and understanding) become more complex as the term proceeds. Also
the second assignment was more demanding than the first, asking students to show
their knowledge in using three different tenses (present, past and future).
4
APPENDIX 1
Level 2 Writing Tasks - Holistic Rubric
Exceeds
expectations
Meets
expectations
Task
completion
Superior
completion
of the task,
content
appropriate,
ideas welldeveloped
and well
organized
4 points
Completion
of the task,
content
appropriate,
ideas
adequately
developed
Level of
Discourse
Vocabulary
Grammar
Mechanics
Comprehensibility
Text readily
comprehensible,
requiring no
interpretation on
the part of the
reader
Variety of
complete
sentences
and of
cohesive
devices
Rich use of
vocabulary
Control of
basic
language
structures
4 points
4 points
Few or no
errors in
spelling, use
of
punctuation
and/or
capitalization
4 points
Text
comprehensible,
requiring minimal
interpretation on
the part of the
reader
Emerging
variety of
complete
sentences,
some
cohesive
devices
4 points
4 points
Adequate
and
accurate
use of
vocabulary
for this level
Partial
completion
of the task,
content
mostly
appropriate,
ideas are
undeveloped
3 points
Text mostly
comprehensible,
requiring
interpretation on
the part of the
reader
2 points
3 points
Use of
complete
sentences,
some
repetitive,
few
cohesive
devices
2 points
Does not
meet
expectations
Minimal
completion
of the task,
and/or
content
frequently
inappropriate
0-1 point
Text barely
comprehensible
0-1 point
Mostly
accurate
spelling, use
of
punctuation
and/or
capitalization
3 points
3 points
3 points
Almost
meets
expectations
Emerging
control of
basic
language
structures
2 points
Predominant
use of
complete yet
repetitive
sentences,
no or almost
no cohesive
devices
0-1 point
3 points
Somewhat
inadequate
and/or
inaccurate
use of
vocabulary
and too
basic for
this level
2 points
Emerging
use of
basic
language
structures
Inadequate
and/or
inaccurate
use of
vocabulary
Inadequate
and/or
inaccurate
use of
basic
language
structures
0-1 point
0-1 point
Somewhat
inaccurate
spelling, use
punctuation
and/or
capitalization
2 points
2 points
Inaccurate
spelling, use
punctuation
and/or
capitalization
0-1 point
5
Appendix 2
FIRST WRITING ASSIGNMENT FOR ASSESSMENT LF112
FALL 2010
Writing assignment: Directions: Pick one topic at random and write a short passage in
French of at least 60 words. Be sure to satisfy the purpose of the task as described by the
rubric given to you. The structures or expressions used should be connected logically, and
should demonstrate a wide range of vocabulary, originality and knowledge of the
language. [24 points]
1. Your activities: Describe what you did last weekend. Use the passé composé







Got up late
Did some house chores
Went shopping
Played some sports
Exercised
Ate at the restaurant or at home
Went to the cinema/theater/a party with friends
2. Shopping: Use present tense.







Describe what you need to buy, and why
Clothing, gifts for the holidays, food
What stores you go to
What items do you purchase; for whom
How much do you pay for your purchases
How do you pay
How do you get home
3. Holidays: you are planning your next vacation; Use the futur proche and explain:.










When will you be on vacation
Where you plan to go
How will you travel there
If you will be alone or with friends or family
Are you going to travel abroad if so where
What will you do
What will you visit
Whom will you visit
Do you plan to bring back souvenirs for your friends/family
When you will return
6
Appendix 3
SECOND WRITING ASSIGNMENT FOR ASSESSMENT OF LF112
Directions: write three short passages in French of at least 25 words each on the following topics. Be sure to
satisfy the purpose of the task as described by the rubric given to you. The structures or expressions
used should be connected logically, and should demonstrate a wide range of vocabulary, originality
and knowledge of the language . Give as much details as possible in complete French sentences and
avoid repetitions. You must write at least a minimum of 75 words for the whole assignment.
1. Ordering a meal in a French restaurant: write a dialog with the waiter who will offer
you what he has; choose your menu. Use the present.
 The waiter offer you some appetizer
 Then an entree
 Some vegetable
 Beverages
 Desserts
 Then you ask for the check
 You pay and leave
2. Your activities last week-end: use the passé composé







2.
Got up late
Did some house chores
Went shopping
Played some sports
Exercised
Ate at the restaurant or at home
Went to the cinema/theater/a party with friends
Holidays: you are planning your next vacation; Use the futur proche and explain.










When will you be on vacation
Where you plan to go
How will you travel there
If you will be alone or with friends or family
Are you going to travel abroad if so where
What will you do
What will you visit
Whom will you visit
Do you plan to bring back souvenirs for your friends/family
When you will return