Assessing Writing Abilities

Like so many other aspects of language analysis, assessing the writing abilities of non-native English speakers (NNES) becomes an increasingly complex issue as one explores both its root meaning and its current uses; this complexity can be traced, in part, to the recognition that writing abilities develop in interaction with other language skills. In this volume, various chapters have narrowed, if artificially, the area of investigation by providing for a separate consideration of assessment as applied to each of the four language skills; clearly assessment of language proficiency as a total package also is of great concern in academic contexts, especially where NNES students are concerned (see also Resources in Language Testing website).