Topic: Primary Trait Assessment System

Question: What are the effects of using a Primary Trait Assessment on students’ writing?

Answer: “Found that elementary and secondary teachers used the Primary Trait System to clarify lesson objectives, formulate assignments, help students evaluate ad respond to peers’ writing, assess student writing….” D Hollzkom, 1983, p. 421.

Comment: My understanding of the Primary Trait Scoring System is that a major component of writing, i.e., the thesis, provides at least three levels of scoring, from “clearly present,” to “partly present” to “non-existent.” Should be helpful in highlighting the presence or absence of a major writing component. RayS.

Title: “Annotated Bibliography of Research in the Teaching of English.” RK Durst and JD Marshall. Research in the Teaching of English (December 1984), 417-438.