MACMILLAN The Assessment of L2 Written English across the MENA Region: A Synthesis of Practice

This edited book brings together contributions from different educational contexts across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in order to explore how L2 English writing is assessed. Across seven MENA countries, the book covers aspects of practice including: task design and curriculum alignment, test (re)development, rubric design, the subjective decision making that underpins assessing students’ writing and feedback provision, learner performance and how research methods help shed light on initiatives to improve student writing. In such coverage, chapter authors provide concrete evidence of how assessment practice is governed by their unique context, yet also influenced by international standards, trends and resources. This book will be of interest to second language teachers, assessors and programme developers as well as test designers and evaluators. Review “The chapters in this volume represent a unique and informative overview of current research and practices in the area of writing assessment across MENA. I am particularly impressed by the breadth and quality of the chapters and am convinced that the collection offers an unrivalled starting point for those interested in research on writing assessment in the region and beyond.” --Professor Barry O'Sullivan OBE, British Council, UK From the Back Cover This edited book brings together contributions from different educational contexts across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in order to explore how L2 English writing is assessed. Across seven MENA countries, the book covers aspects of practice including: task design and curriculum alignment, test (re)development, rubric design, the subjective decision making that underpins assessing students’ writing and feedback provision, learner performance and how research methods help shed light on initiatives to improve student writing. In such coverage, chapter authors provide concrete evidence of how assessment practice is governed by their unique context, yet also influenced by international standards, trends and resources. This book will be of interest to second language teachers, assessors and programme developers as well as test designers and evaluators. Lee McCallum is an EdD candidate at the University of Exeter, UK.  She has extensive teaching and assessment experience from the Middle East, Europe and China. Her most recent work is a co-authored book entitled Understanding Development and Proficiency in Writing: Quantitative Corpus Linguistics Approaches (forthcoming, 2021).  Christine Coombe is an Associate Professor of General Studies at Dubai Men's College, United Arab Emirates.  Christine is co-editor of multiple projects, including The Cambridge Guide to Research in Language Teaching and Learning (2015).  Her forthcoming books are on research questions in language education and professionalism.  About the Author Lee McCallum is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Exeter, UK.  She has extensive teaching and assessment experience from the Middle East, Europe and China. Her most recent work is a co-authored book entitled Understanding Development and Proficiency in Writing: Quantitative Corpus Linguistics Approaches (forthcoming, 2021). Christine Coombe is an Associate Professor of General Studies at Dubai Men's College, United Arab Emirates.  Christine is co-editor of multiple projects, including The Cambridge Guide to Research in Language Teaching and Learning (2015). Her forthcoming books are on research questions in language education and professionalism.