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3.6.1 Scoring Mode
Scoring the students’ work was a step to obtain quantitative information from each student. One of the ways to score or to evaluate the students’
achievement in writing was rating scale. The following scheme of rating scale was used to measure the students’
achievement in their written product Heaton, 1969:169. Table 3.3
The Scoring Guidance Taken from Heaton Grid and Categories Writing
Component Score Description
Grammar 5 4
3 2
1 Master of grammar taught on course-only 1 or 2 minor
mistake. A few mistakes only prepositions, articles, etc.
Only 1 or 2 major mistakes but a few ones. Major mistakes which lead to difficulty in understanding,
lack of mastery of sentence construction. Numerous serious mistakes-on mastery of sentence
construction-almost unintelligible.
Vocabulary 5 4
3
2
1 Use of wide ranges of vocabulary taught previously.
Good use of new words acquired-fairly appropriate synonyms, circumlocution.
Attempts to use words acquired-fairly appropriate vocabulary on the whole but sometimes restricted-has to
resort to use of synonyms, circumlocution, etc. on a few occasions.
Restricted vocabulary-use of synonyms but not always appropriate imprecise and vague-affect meaning.
Very restricted vocabulary-inappropriate use of synonyms seriously hinders communication.
Mechanics Spelling
5 4
3
2 1
No errors. 1 or 2 minor errors only e.g ie or ei.
Several errors-do not interfere significantly with communication-not too hard to understand.
Several errors-some interfere with communication- some words very hard to recognize.
Numerous errors-hard to recognize several words- communication made very difficult.
Relevance 5
All sentences support the topic-highly organized-clear
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Content 4
3 2
1 progression of ideas well linked-like educated native
speaker. Ideas well organizes-links could occasionally be clearer
but communication not impaired. Some lack of organized-re-reading required for
clarification of ideas. Little or on attempts at connectivity-though reader deduce
some organization-individual ideas may be very difficult to deduce connection between them.
Lack of organization so severs that communication is seriously impaired.
Fluency 5 4
3 2
1 Flowing style-very easy to understand-both complex and
simple sentences very effective. Quite flowing style-mostly easy to understand-a few
complex sentences very effective. Style reasonably smooth-not too hard to understand mostly
but not all simple sentences-fairly effective. Jerky style-an effort needed to understand and enjoy
reading-complex sentences or compound sentences. Very jerk-hard to understand-cannot enjoy reading-almost
all simple sentences-complex sentences confusing- excessive use of “and”.
3.6.2 Classifying the Score