1. Space limitations in the Record Form sometimes necessitate recording only part of a student’s statement. Record a sufficient sample of each statement so that the full statement in the essay can be identified later, if needed, to verify scoring.
2. To facilitate recording and scoring, make a copy of the student’s essay or use a transparency overlay. Use colored pens or highlighters to mark Reasons Why and Elaborations in different colors. Circle Transitions in another color.
3. The first time you use this Scoring Guide (or after a long time without using it), it is strongly recommended that you read all of the information boxes.
4. It is strongly recommended that you practice scoring before administering and scoring Essay Composition. The Scoring Workbook is included with the WIAT–III for this purpose.
1. Disregard spelling, capitalization, and punctuation errors. Theme Development and Text Organization is not a measure of written mechanics, so mechanics errors are not penalized.
2. With the exception of identifying independent clauses, dependent clauses, and complete sentences, disregard other grammar and syntax errors.