Example assessment & marking criteria
Assessment type:
Essay
Subject:
EML110 Language as social practice
This subject develops critical knowledge of English language and literacy as socio-cultural practice. It focuses on
language development and literacy practices in home and community settings examining the nature of texts, their
characteristics and functions within an environment of multiliteracies. Specific emphasis is placed on enhancing
students' understanding and use of literary, factual and multimodal texts. Students' academic literacy skills will be
enhanced by developing confidence and competence using a range of texts. It is one of a series of subjects
focussed on English literacy and prepares students for subsequent study of reading and the Primary English
curriculum.
 understand the need, as scholarly and autonomous adult learners, to take responsibility for their own
continuing personal and professional development as critically reflective professionals
 be responsive to the rights and needs of diverse learners and community groups
 have a deep understanding of, and effective skills in the teaching of the full range of subject knowledge as a
dynamic aspect of children's curricular experience
 be committed to education as a process of critical transformation of individuals, schools and society.
Subject learning
objectives:
(NB: this will change
to learning outcomes
in 201430):
Assessment task:
Value & length:
Task description:
ASSIGNMENT 2: Essay - ‘Sociocultural’ approaches to language, literacy and learning
60%, 1500 words
Part Two - Essay - Sociocultural approaches to language literacy and learning
This essay will reflect your learning over the semester. You are to use your learning to respond to the following
quote in relation to your understandings about: language as a social cultural practice, literacy, text and teaching and
learning in classrooms.
We can think of literacy not merely as a single skill, or even a set of skills, but as a way of operating with a variety of
texts within particular sets of social situations.[...] Teaching children to be literate, therefore, should not be seen
merely as providing them with a set of skills to transfer from situation to situation. Rather, it should involve teaching
them about how to participate in, understand and gain control of the social practices of their society and the literacy
practices that are embedded in them. (Winch, Johnston, March, Ljungdahl & Holliday, 2010, pp xxxviii)
Draw on your reading and learning over the semester to respond in relation to these four concepts:
1. Language as a social and cultural practice
2. Teaching and l earning to be literate in the 21st century
3. Literacy, identity and the role of the home
4. Multimodal texts and the impact of technology on literacy.
Guidelines:
 Begin by considering the quote and identify the key phrases and concepts that you can link to subject
content and sociocultural theories of language and literacy.
 Read over your blog summaries and identify readings to revisit and get ideas from to support your
responses to the quote above.
 Consider why it is important for teachers to understand these concepts.
 Plan your essay and make an outline of the introduction, paragraphs and conclusion.
 Write your essay, revise it, proofread it.
Rationale:
NOTE: Further support for this assignment will be provided in tutorials.
Teachers need to be able to articulate the theoretical underpinnings of their teaching practices. They also need to
understand and write different types of texts. The professional reading and reflection task enables students to
develop as ‘scholarly, autonomous and responsible adult learners’ by demonstrating knowledge of the subject as
presented in the set texts and readings and making connections to content covered in the workshops. The purpose
of the forum posts is to provide students with the opportunity to read, reflect on and respond to their learning about
core concepts from the subject. The purpose of the essay is to enable students to demonstrate their understandings
of the socio-cultural nature of language and literacy development drawing on the texts, readings and discussions
experienced in the subject. It is also designed to enable students to demonstrate the important aspects of academic
essay writing. This assignment has been designed, in relation to the objectives of the subject, to enable students to:
 demonstrate a developing knowledge of language as social practice
 identify emergent forms of literate practices within a global context
 represent knowledge using a range of ICT tools (the forum)
 demonstrate correct use of APA referencing.
Marking criteria & standards of performance
0-49%
Unsatisfactory
50-64%
Satisfactory
Demonstrates an understanding
and appropriate use of critical
concepts and terms used in the
Subject, including:
1. language as a social and
cultural practice,
2. teaching and learning to
be literate in the 21st
century;
3. identity and the role of
the home in literacy
development;
4. technology and
multimodality
Identifies and describes key
concepts associated with a sociocultural view of language and
learning;
Critical concepts/
themes are not
described, or are
discussed in
superficial ways. Key
terms are used
inaccurately and there
is a lack of evidence of
understanding.
Criteria
65-74%
75-84%
85-100%
At least 2 critical
concepts/ themes are
described with
reference to the quote.
Some terms are used
accurately and provide
evidence of
understanding.
At least 2 critical
concepts/ themes are
explained with reference
to the quote. The ideas
are treated discretely
rather than being
synthesised in the
discussion. Most terms
are used accurately and
provide evidence of
understanding.
At least 3 critical
concepts/ themes
are explained with
reference to the
quote. Some ideas
are synthesised and
integrated into a
coherent discussion.
Key terms are used
accurately and with
confidence.
All 4 critical
concepts/ themes
are synthesised and
skilfully integrated
into the essay. Key
terms are used
confidently and a
high level of
understanding is
evident.
Key concepts are not
identified or described.
Key concepts are
identified. There is
minimal support from
references.
Key concepts are
described using some
appropriate terminology.
Some are supported
with references.
Most key concepts
are explained using
some appropriate
terminology and
references.
Discusses the implications for
teaching and learning of
sociocultural approaches to
language and literacy.
Implications for
teaching and learning
are not identified or
discussed.
The most obvious
implications for
teaching and learning
are identified.
A range of implications
for teaching and
learning is described.
Reflects on own learning from the
readings
There is little or no
reflection on own
learning.
There is superficial
reflection on own
learning, with some
connections made to
Own learning is
described in connection
to readings and some
key concepts.
A range of
implications for
teaching and
learning is explained
with reference to
classroom contexts.
Own learning is
evaluated in
connection to
readings, key
Key concepts are
explained using
consistently
appropriate
terminology and
references.
A pertinent range of
implications for
teaching and
learning is analysed
with reference to
classroom contexts.
Critical reflection
about own learning is
skilfully incorporated
into the essay.
the readings.
Demonstrates appropriate use of
subject reading materials to
support ideas with citations and
quotes.
No subject readings
are used to support
ideas.
At least 2 subject
readings are used to
support ideas. Quotes
may not be evident or
their relevance may
not be explained.
concepts and
experiences in the
subject.
3-4 appropriate subject
readings are used to
support ideas. Quotes
are mostly relevant and
explained clearly.
Demonstrates tertiary standards
of academic literacy. (Written
Text is cohesive, uses correct
sentence structure, paragraphing,
punctuation and spelling)
Demonstrates accurate use of
APA referencing formats for intext citations and final reference
list.
COMMENTS:
Assessor:
Date:
More than 4 relevant
subject readings are
used to support
ideas. Pertinent
quotes are
explained.
Connections to
concepts and
experiences from
across the subject
are made.
More than 6 relevant
references are
incorporated to
support ideas.
Pertinent quotes are
skilfully integrated
into the text.