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WPP - FAQs
WPP - FAQs
What are the basic elements of ERB’s online Writing Practice Program (WPP)?
Does the WPP replace the reader-scored WrAP?
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?
What are the basic technical requirements?
How can I order the online WPP?
What are the basic elements of the online Writing Practice Program (WPP)?
The 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.
To keep pace with students’ progressing writing skills, modes of discourse and scoring standards change over the five levels of the WPP.
Does the WPP replace the reader-scored WrAP?
No. The two programs are designed to complement one another:
- The WrAP is a diagnostic tool that helps identify strengths and weaknesses in stydents' writing.When viewed alonside other writing by students at school, the WrAP results can help schools build and sustain their writing program.
- The WPP provides opportunities for individual students to work on areas of weakness identified by the WrAP and school assignments. It may be used alone or as a complement to WrAP.
How does the online 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 were 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 are used to give students experience writing for varied purposes and to different audiences. 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 the grade-specific prompt, the student submits his or her essay.
- Students have up to 60 minutes to complete the essay.
- After receiving the score, the student will be directed to appropriate online tutorials for help with writing skills.
- After reviewing some practice exercises, the student may return to his or her original essay, revise it and resubmit it for new scores, or select a different prompt altogether.
- Submitted essays 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 elements on a scale of one (low) to six (high):
- 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.
- Scores are maintained in an online portfolio, available to the student and the teacher.
What are the basic technical requirements?
- Minimum Requirements:* Windows 98 and above / Internet Explorer 6 or higher; Firefox 1.5 or higher * Mac OSX and above / Safari 2.0 or higher
- Firewall Configuration:* Firewall and Content Filters must be configured to allow users to access wpponline.com
- Internet Connectivity:* High-speed (Broadband) connection is recommended (i.e., Cable, DSL, wireless)
- Cookies:* Browser must be configured to accept cookies.
- Add-ons & Plug-ins: * JavaScript: Enabled * Flash Player: Version 9.0 or higher
How can I order the 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 hit “Register” you will be prompted to enter credit card information.
