Assessing

Creative Writing

A presentation by Aaron Livingstone, Lacey Banman, and

Vagn Moore
 Creative writing
cannot be
assessed
objectively
There are no right or wrong answers
in creative writing
“ ...the assessment of writing is problematic and is
considered to be the single most significant obstacle
to practical progress in writing instruction and
research”
(Cole, Haley, & Muenz, 1997).
 Creative writing
contains many
aspects
Aspects include:
Setting (time, place)
Character development
Tone
Form
Subject matter
Technical/Structural (grammar, spelling)
Others...
 Depending on the
assignment, some
aspects will be more
heavily weighted than
others for assessment
 Reader-response
criticism is
important
● focuses on the reader
their impression/interpretation
Opposed to new critical theory
 Peer review is a
great tool for
creative writing
assessment
When more readers review a piece of
writing, the cumulative response
becomes more objective
 Peer review
promotes dialogue
and self reflection
Peer review encourages students to
communicate about their material
and consider their own writing
 Group Review of
Creative Writing
Examples
➔ Form Groups
Groups of six, try to have at
least one English-savvy person
in each group
➔ Review “Peer Editing
Handout” and then read a
piece of creative writing
Your group will all have the
same one
➔ Discussion/Assessment
Discuss with your group what
you found notable about the
piece of writing and use the
“Peer Editing Handout” you’ve
been given
Class discussion
Assessing creative
writing can be
troublesome, but
through
PEER
REVIEW
we can find more
objectivity and inspire
dialogue on our own
writing
 References
Cole, J.C., Haley, K.A., Muenz, T.A. (1997). Written expression
reviewed. Research in the Schools, 4 (1), pp. 17-34.

Meier, S.L., Rich, B.S, Cady, J. (2006). Teachers’ use of rubrics to

score non-traditional tasks: Factors related to discrepancies in
scoring. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy and Practice,
13 (1), pp. 69-95

Rezaei, A.R., Lovorn, M. (2010). Reliability and validity of rubrics for

assessment through writing. Assessing Writing, 15, pp. 18-39.