Guidelines for a Language Arts Assignment

Separating language and content is generally straightforward in science and social studies classes. However, it is much more difficult to separate language and content in the language arts class where language is part of the content. In any event, it is important to make clear in advance the focus of grading with respect to language and content. ESOL students should be asked to focus either on language or content but not on both simultaneously. Furthermore, it is not advisable to assign two grades to one essay or activity (one grade for content and another for language), given that this essentially asks ESOL students to focus on everything at once.

Listed below are guidelines for grading when the focus is on language:

1. Select a few high priority objectives that are appropriate to the student's stage of language development (i.e., capitalization, verb tenses, proper indentation)
2. Ask students to clarify important but confusing sentences and/or paragraphs. This can occur in a student-teacher conference.
3. Select grammar that has been previously taught. Do not assume that the student has received instruction on a specific grammar function. If a particular grammatical point has not been previously taught, be sure to review the rule with the student.

Note: While it is not advisable to simultaneously grade both language and content, it is advisable to grade both process and product. For example, give one grade for utilizing the steps of process writing (prewriting, drafting, conferencing, revising, and editing), and a second grade for the final product.

 

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