The Politics of English Second Language Writing Assessment in Global Contexts [Hardcover]

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, Todd Ruecker and Deborah Crusan

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, Estela Ene and Katarzyna Hryniuk

3. Vignette: The Importance of Context in Second Language Writing Evaluation, Theresa A. Orlovsky

4. Foreign Language Writing Assessment and Brazilian Educational Policies,Luciana C. de Oliveira, Solange Aranha, and Fernando Zolin-Vesz

5. Sociopolitical Contexts of EFL Writing Assessment in Vietnam: Impact of a National Project, Xuan Minh Ngo

6. Vignette: Policl3“