Abstract

This paper aims to validate scales for the early development of writing proficiency based on a framework used to linguistically describe multiple dimensions of writing development in 6–9 year-old Danish-speaking students and to lay the statistical foundation for empirically describing proficiency levels in emergent writers. The analysis is based on the Rasch model and was conducted on texts (n = 803) written by Year 0–2 students using the computer app WriteReader. The paper introduces both the model and the theory behind it, including the rationale for using this model, and it presents the main analytical steps taken and decisions made in the study, which is part of the large-scale Danish research project entitled Teaching Platform for Developing and Automatically Tracking Early Stage Literacy Skills (ATEL, 2018–2023). The results show that it is possible to identify detailed levels of early writing development in four dimensions: 1) text construction, 2) sentence construction, 3) verbals, and 4) modifiers.

Journal
Writing and Pedagogy
Published
2022-07-02
DOI
10.1558/wap.21491
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access
OA PDF Gold
Topics
Export

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (2)

  1. Writing and Pedagogy
  2. Writing and Pedagogy

Cites in this index (4)

  1. Writing and Pedagogy
  2. Writing and Pedagogy
  3. Writing and Pedagogy
  4. College Composition and Communication
Also cites 17 works outside this index ↓
  1. Adams, R. J., Wu, M. L. & Wilson, M. (2012). The Rasch rating model and the disordered threshold controversy.…
  2. Andersen, E. B. (1973). Conditional inference for multiple choice questionnaires. British Journal of Mathemat…
  3. Biber, D. (1995). Dimensions of register variation: A cross-linguistic comparison. Cambridge University Press…
  4. Crosthwaite, P. (2016). A longitudinal multidimensional analysis of EAP writing: Determining EAP course effec…
  5. Donahue, C. & Lillis, T. (2014). Models of writing and text production. In E.M. Jakobs & D. P. Perrin (Eds.),…
  6. Graham, S., Gillespie, A. & McKeown, D. (2013). Writing: Importance, development, and instruction. Read Writ,…
  7. Hall-Mills, S. & Apel, K. (2015). Linguistic feature development across grades and genre in elementary writin…
  8. Halliday, M. A. K. (1993). Towards a language-based theory of learning. Linguistics and Education, 5(2), 93–1…
  9. Hudson, R. (2009). Measuring maturity. In R. Beard, D. Myhill, M. Nystrand & J. Riley (Eds.), The SAGE Handbo…
  10. Kelderman, H. (1988). Common item equating using the loglinear Rasch model. Journal of Educational Statistics…
  11. Kreiner, S. & Christensen, K. B. (2011). Item screening in graphical loglinear Rasch models. Psychometrika, 7…
  12. Krogh, E. & Jakobsen, K. S. (Eds.). (2019). Understanding young people’s writing development. London: Routledge.
  13. Maydeu-Olivares, A. (2013). Goodness-of-fit assessment of item response theory models. Measurement: Interdisc…
  14. Mueller, M. (2020). iarm: Item analysis in Rasch models [Manual]. https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=iarm
  15. Myhill, D. (2008). Towards a linguistic model of sentence development in writing. Language and Education, 22(…
  16. Skar, G. B., Jølle, L. & Aasen, A. J. (2020). Establishing rating scales to assess writing proficiency develo…
  17. Weigle, S. C. & Friginal, E. (2015). Linguistic dimensions of impromptu test essays compared with successful …