ABSTRACT
Assessment is one part of a larger educational system. It is an interconnected and interacting system in which all parts impact and affect the others. This chapter looks at three kinds of more authentic assessment: Portfolios, checklists, and anecdotal notes. Portfolios are a valid way to assess students’ writing because they contain students’ real-life writing products. There are three kinds of portfolio: A work portfolio, a showcase portfolio, and a teacher portfolio. Checklists are an alternative to rubrics. A checklist lists the desired traits and a place either to check if the trait is present or to rate the degree to which the trait is present. Anecdotal notes are quick written descriptions of what you see occurring as students are writing. They are kept in a teacher portfolio. Good assessment of any kind should involve students.
