WPP FAQs

What are the basic elements of ERB’s online Writing Practice Program (WPP)?
How does the online WPP work?
How are the writing prompts developed?
What modes of discourse are assessed?
What are the testing procedures?
What criteria are used in the rubric to score the writing sample analytically?
How are students’ scores reported?
How much does the program cost?
How can I order ERB’s online WPP?
 

What are the basic elements of ERB’s online Writing Practice Program (WPP)?
The online WPP provides a direct measure of writing ability by asking for a writing sample from each student.
Schools may test their students at five levels:
• Elementary (grades 3–4)
• Intermediate (grades 5–6)
• Middle (grades 7–8)
• Secondary (grades 9–10)
• College Preparatory (grades 11–12)
The same scoring criteria are employed for each level.
Over the five levels of the WPP, modes of discourse and scoring standards change to keep pace with students’ progressing writing skills.

How does the WPP work?
The essays are reliably scored using an analytical computer scoring program based on the ERB Scoring Rubric. The scoring models have been verified to agree with human readers over 90 percent of the time.

How are the writing prompts developed?
The writing prompts are developed by staff and member school educators experienced in teaching and assessing writing. Prompts are crafted to elicit the best writing from students who come from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Different prompts are used for each of the five levels, and new prompts are introduced each year.

What modes of discourse are assessed?
Different modes of discourse must be employed to develop the essays. Consistent with the National Council of Teachers of English standards, students are asked to respond to writing prompts that call for essentially the same modes of discourse in a developmental sequence:
TESTING LEVEL MODE OF DISCOURSE
Elementary (Grades 3–4) Narrative
Intermediate (Grades 5–6) Informative/Descriptive
Middle (Grades 7–8) Expository
Secondary (Grades 9–10) Persuasive
College Prep (Grades 11–12) Critical Thinking

What are the testing procedures?
• Students have 24/7 password-protected access to a secure website.
• After reviewing a grade-specific prompt, the student submits his or her essay.
• Students have up to 60 minutes to complete the essay.
• Once the student has received his or her scores, he or she will be directed to appropriate online tutorials for help with writing skills.
• After reviewing some practice exercises, a student may return to his or her original essay, revise it, and then re-submit it for new scores, or select a different prompt altogether.
• Each essay a student submits will be available to teachers through an online portfolio of work.

What criteria are used in the rubric to score the writing sample analytically?
Each student’s essay is scored with respect to six different elements on a scale of one (low) to six (high). The six elements are:
• OVERALL DEVELOPMENT—how well the writer communicates with the reader, shows awareness of the audience, task, and purpose for writing, and writes in the appropriate mode of discourse.
• ORGANIZATION—the writer’s ability to develop a logical plan of organization, maintain coherence throughout the paper, and create paragraphs.
• SUPPORT—the use of appropriate reasons, details, and examples to enhance the effect and/or support the generalizations and conclusions of the piece.
• SENTENCE STRUCTURE—completeness, correct usage, and variety or sophistication of sentences.
• WORD CHOICE—specific vocabulary, as well as freshness and vividness of language.
• MECHANICS—the correct and effective use of spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.

How are students’ scores reported?
• Scores will appear directly on the screen moments after submission.
• A graph indicates the score given in each of the six writing traits.
• To monitor progress, scores are maintained in an online portfolio, available to the student and the teacher.

How much does the program cost?
For ERB member schools the cost is $12 per student for a full year or $8 per student for a half year (January 15 to August 1).
Click here for the latest information on ordering.

For individual parents or home schools, the cost is $125 for up to five children per househol for unlimited access to the automated essay scoring program and tutorials. Click here for parent order form.

How can I order ERB’s online WPP?
ERB member schools may order the Writing Practice Program by clicking here and completing the form.
Individual parents and home schools can click here to access the ordering website. Click “Join Now” to create an account. For first-time users, click on “I have not been given a course code,” and select a grade level from the drop-down list. Once you click “Register” you will be prompted to enter credit card information.