The Politics of English Second Language Writing Assessment in Global Contexts ESL & Applied Linguistics Professional Series

Reflecting the internationalization of the field of second language writing, this book focuses on political aspects and pedagogical issues of writing instruction and testing in a global context. High-stakes assessment impacts the lives of second language (L2) writers and their teachers around the world, be it the College English Test in China, Common Core-aligned assessments in the U.S., English proficiency tests in Poland, or the material conditions (such as access to technology, training, and other resources) affecting a classroom. With contributions from authors working in ten different countries in a variety of institutional contexts, the chapters examine the uses and abuses of various writing-related assessments, and the policies that determine their form and use. Representing a diverse range of contexts, methods, and disciplines, the authors jointly call for more equitable testing systems that consider the socioeconomic, psychometric, affective, institutional, and needs of all students who strive to gain access to education and employment opportunities related to English language proficiency.

1. The Intersections of Politics and Second Language Writing Assessment: What We Know Part I: Local and National Policy Contexts 2. Worlds Apart, but in the Same Boat: How Macro-Level Policy Influences EFL Writing Pedagogy in China, Mexico, and Poland 3. Vignette: The Importance of Context in Second Language Writing Evaluation 4. Foreign Language Writing Assessment and Brazilian Educational Policies 5. Sociopolitical Contexts of EFL Writing Assessment in Vietnam: Impact of a National Project 6. Vignette: Policy Makers, Assessment Practices, and Ethical Dilution 7. English Writing Assessment in the context of Iran: The Double life of Iranian Test-takers Part II: High Stakes Assessment 8. High-Stakes English Writing Assessment in Egyptian Secondary Schools: Historical Testing Orientations and Current Instructional Practices 9. Vignette: Error Recognition: A So-Called "Writing" Assessment? 10. "Write an E-mail to Your Friend in England": Assessment of the Written English Matura Exam in Poland 11. Vignette: Assessing English Linguistic Knowledge and Writing Skills in Secondary Schools Through State Matura Exam: The Case of Macedonia 12. Righting Writing Practices? An exam reform’s impact on L2 writing teaching and assessment 13. Impacts and Responses to a University High Stakes Writing Test Part III: Seeking Solutions: Assessing Better Locally and Internationally 14. Writing Academically and Creatively: Moving Beyond Test-Driven Writing Instruction in a Chinese University 15. Vignette: When Are Students Ready Enough?: Issues and Dilemmas Around Assessment of L2 Writers in a WAC Program 16. Accommodating Writing Tests for Second Language Learners with Disabilities 17. E-portfolio Project: Assessing Language Teacher Learning in the Chilean Desert 18. The Value of Usage-based Approaches to Diagnostic Placement Assessment in Graduate EAP 19. Vignette: Challenging the Deficit Mindset: The WIDA Can Do Philosophy in a Second Language Writing Context. Afterword

Todd Ruecker is Assistant Professor of English at the University of New Mexico, USA.

Deborah Crusan is Professor of English at Wright State University, USA.