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How can the Criterion service help students?
The Criterion service gives students valuable, risk-free, self-paced writing practice and provides instant holistic scores and annotated diagnostic feedback on their essay. Students are motivated with unlimited opportunities to work either independently or collaboratively with instructors and peers — without waiting for teachers to mark their essay.
How many topics are available?
The Criterion library encompasses grade-school to graduate-level topics. Currently, there are 44 topics for grades 4-8; 29 topics for grades 9-12; 11 topics for the first two years of college; 14 topics for the GRE® test; and 22 topics for the TOEFL® test. Teachers have the flexibility to select a topic from any grade level and use it in another grade level; that topic will now receive a holistic score based on the grade-level standard. Using this Instructor Topic Scored feature, the teacher can assign any topic in the library to their students on grade level. And teachers can use the topics at the designated grade to be scored at that grade level.
Where do the topics come from?
Criterion topics come from a range of sources including ETS testing programs such as the NAEP®, PraxisTM, TOEFL® tests, and the English Placement Test designed for California State University. Grade school level teachers and ETS assessment specialists wrote many of the library topics.
Are instructors limited to the Criterion library of topics?
No. In addition to the library, the Criterion service offers a “write-your-own-topic” feature for every grade level. Teachers may select from two options:
Instructor’s Topic (diagnostic feedback only), and Instructor’s Topic Scored (BOTH diagnostic feedback and holistic score). Instructors can choose either option to create a writing assignment for any subject. The Criterion service provides topic construction guidelines to ease this process. And every level of diagnostic feedback can be reported.
California and Texas users are offered state-specific prompts developed to conform to each state’s writing standards.
Can the Criterion service provide a holistic score along with the diagnostic feedback for topics not in the Library?
Yes. When the instructors create their own topics, the Instructor Topic Scored feature generates either a 4-point or 6-point holistic score. Using a pop-up window, the Criterion service assists instructors in writing prompts for either expository or persuasive modes.The Criterion service explains the requirements and offers a link to step-by-step instructions on how to create a topic that can be scored.
How does the Criterion service handle an unusual writing style?
The Criterion service compares each essay to other essays in the database that have already been scored. It also looks for specific features in syntax, organization, and vocabulary.
If there is anything anomalous, e.g., essays are too brief, the content is repetitive, or the vocabulary is unusual, then the Criterion service posts an advisory or warning stating that it is unable to provide an accurate score. The advisory alerts the instructor to review the flagged essay(s).
Will the use of the Criterion service stifle creative writing among students?
No. The Criterion service is designed to evaluate a different style of writing from creative writing. In a test environment, students tend to write more straightforward essays and they understand that they are not being assessed on their creative writing abilities.
Will the Criterion service catch cheating or plagiarism?
No. The Criterion service simply evaluates the essay. It is the instructor’s responsibility to ascertain that students have submitted their own work.
Instructors can opt to display sample essays on the Create Assignment screen. Students can then view the samples and refer to them while they write their own essays. The sample essays are in a read-only format and cannot be copied, cut, and pasted into another document.
What information does the Criterion service report to teachers?
Teachers have easy and secure access to each student’s portfolio of essays, diagnostic reports, and scores. The student’s first-attempt essay and the most recent saved essay are included in the portfolio. In addition, teachers can view a summary of the entire class’ performance and scores.
What types of diagnostic feedback do students get?
Students receive an annotated version of their essay that points out any errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics and offers comments on style, organization, and development. They can make revisions and resubmit their essay. Each time they submit an essay they’ll receive a diagnostic analysis and a holistic evaluation of their work.
Can instructors limit what the student receives for feedback?
Yes. Instructors can select what, if any, feedback the students receive on each assignment.
What writing genres does the Criterion service cover?
The Criterion library contains assignments in nine genres:
- Argumentative
- Cause and Effect
- Compare and Contrast
- Descriptive
- xpository
- Issue
- Narrative
- Persuasive
- Process
- Plus, the Criterion state-specific versions include alternative formats, e.g., a response to literature, a summary, or a business letter.
What are the Criterion Writer's Handbooks?
The Criterion Writer’s Handbooks are handy online resource tools. Students can find feedback definitions, examples of correct and incorrect usage, and an explanation of how to interpret the feedback. Students can access the handbook when they are reviewing their diagnostic feedback or portfolios.
There are five version of the Writer’s Handbook:
- Elementary – Grades 4, 5, 6
- Middle School – Grades 6, 7, 8, 9
- Standard version shows “prescriptive” feedback messages
- Optional version is available for “descriptive” feedback messages
- High School/College – Grades 9, 10, 11, 12; College 1, 2
- English Language Learners (ELL) – Grades 7-Adult
- Spanish/English Bilingual – Grade 6–Adult
Instructors decide which handbook to use for each class and also have the option of assigning a specific handbook to a specific student.
Additional versions of the Criterion Writer’s Handbook may be added in the future.
Is the vocabulary used in the diagnostic feedback messages also age/level appropriate as it is in the Writer's Handbook?
Yes. Feedback messages also correspond to the version of the Writer’s Handbook selected by the teacher. The feedback is displayed in a pop-up window when the student rolls the mouse over the highlighted sections in the essay.
Descriptive feedback messages are structured so that the message does not prescribe what to correct. Instead it describes the error so that the student can figure out the appropriate corrective measure.
Does the Criterion service discriminate against students who may be bright but who may not have mastered standard English, e.g., minorities and ESL students?
No. The Criterion service is blind to race, sex, national origin, and personal history.
Can instructors limit access to assignments?
Yes. Instructors have options when setting up the assignment. For example, they may set restrictions on the number of drafts and revisions that students may submit for an assignment. And instructors can make the assignment available for a certain time period.
Can instructors impose time limits on assignments?
Yes. Many of the assignments in the Criterion library have recommended time limits. Instructors may choose to use the recommendation or give the students unlimited time to complete the writing assignment.
When instructors create their own topics they may designate the amount of time to complete the task.
Can instructors limit their students' access to scores and diagnostic feedback?
Yes. Instructors can choose what, if any, of the diagnostic feedback the students receive on each assignment. They may also opt to show or hide the holistic score.
Instructors can select options by trait area when setting up a new assignment, e.g., ALL trait feedback will be reported to the student, SOME trait feedback will be reported, or NONE will be reported.
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