Assessing Change in English Second Language Writing Performance

This book introduces a new framework for analyzing second language (L2) learners' written texts. The authors conducted a major study on changes and differences in English L2 learners' writing performance to advance understanding of the nature of L2 writing development over time, in relation to L2 instruction and testing, and to offer a model that professionals and researchers can use in their own longitudinal and cross-sectional studies of L2 writing development. Grounded in research, data, theory, and technology, this will be a welcome how-to for language test developers, scholars, and graduate students of (L2) writing and assessment.

Khaled Barkaoui is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at York University, Canada, and Past President of the Canadian Association of Language Assessment (CALA). Ali Hadidi is Course Director in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at York University, Canada.

1. Introduction 2. A Framework for Analyzing L2 Learners' Texts 3. Research on L2 Writing Development 4. Method 5. Changes in Grammatical Aspects 6. Changes in Discourse Aspects 7. Changes in Sociolinguistic and Strategic Aspects 8. C hanges in Content and Source Use 9. Discussion and Implications