The assessment of creative writing in Senior Secondary English: A colloquy concerning criteria

Abstract

The assessment of creative writing is mandatory in the Western Australian Certificate of Education () Literature course; is part of the English course and exam; and is a component of the Australian Curriculum English courses: therefore it is important to understand how to assess creative writing consistently. This article reviews studies into methods of assessing creative writing and the literature detailing creative writing assessment criteria. It argues that criteria should be derived from qualities observed in students' creative writing, criteria that describe a spectrum of performance. The use of analytical marking keys' criteria and categories ensures fair and consistent assessment.

Key words:

• Creative writing
• assessment criteria
• Literature
• English