I am going to take the opposite approach here and suggest that some
timed essays towards the end of the course at not sufficient ot allow
students to hand write an essay in their final exam to the best of their
ability.
The skill of planning, writing concisely and quickly, without the time
to re-draft can not really be developed over such a short period.
Of course, students should have word-processing skills and the eight
commentaries (read essays) they have to produce as part of their IB
coursework are all word-processed, but if I give students an essay that
comes from a past exam paper, I stipulate that they must hand write it.
What they lose in re-drafts they gain in exam practise and presentation.
My hand writing sucks and it is getting no better as I now, I type most
things. If I had to write an essay in one hour, it would be very tough
indeed.
Maybe the assessment method is outdated and students should word process
their final exams - I'd love to see Edexcel co-ordinating that one!
Simon Foley
Bangkok Patana School
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