TESTING LITERATURE

By Mr. Kurt S. CandilasMAE-ENG

Why should we test literature?• to elicit a specific response• to develop literary competence• to bring a literary piece of art to students

intellectual and emotional baggage• to develop decision-making and meaning-

making

Tips on Literature Testing

1. Aim for balanced test. The test can include knowledge and skills items; guided, controlled and free response items; and productive and receptive response type items.

2. Use actual, authentic texts. The items require contact with actual texts. This will eliminate dependence on prepared or memorized notes.

3. Provide linguistic support when necessary. Vocabulary and/or structure (grammar) helps eliminate can help eliminate linguistics difficulties that hinder the application of literary skills.

4. Test items should require the application of skills and principles.

5. Test items should encourage the transfer of skills from familiar texts to unfamiliar ones.

6. Write the test items to meet student level, not tutor expectations.

7. The test items should give abstract concepts a practical and concrete focus.

8. Devise questions that would encourage the test-takers to identify with and personalize the texts they meet.

9. Translate into test situations those activities found to be motivating in the classroom.

What are the common forms in testing literature?

1. Multiple choice2. True or False3. Gap-Filling4. Essay test5. Knowledge Question6. Oral test

Multiple Choice

Example:

Dappled things in line 1 refer to all things that Goda. ignoredb. createdc. forgot

Difficult to design but easy to mark Exclusively examines knowledge Knowledge is limited to options provided Encourages guessing (25% chance) More than one option may be possible

True or False

Example Noam Chomsky is known as the father of

generative grammar.

Does not demonstrate broader knowledge Difficult to construct in higher levels Encourages guessing due to 50/50 chance Difficult to test attitudes toward learning

Gap Filling

ExampleWilliam Shakespeare was an English ____________.

They must have a broader contextMore than one option may be possible (unless

tester provides limited options or first letter)Tests can focus on content wordsProduction is tested unless options are providedFocus should be on the aspect assessed

Essay Test

ExampleCheck out the language meaning of the song and explain its denotation and connotation in semantics.

frequently essay questions in literature course are based on subject matter discussed in class.

requires the students to organize their thoughts and substantiate their interpretations.

a highly valid test form

Knowledge Question: Reading

ExampleIdentify the following characters and briefly describe their roles.

encourages reading of the texts they are authentic and communicative a highly valid test form

Oral Test

Positive Points favor the students who express themselves fluently in

the target language permit a broader sampling of the subject matter confront with more direct questions

Negative Pointsdifficult too score with complete reliabilityTeacher and student rapport may tend to influence the

best grade

THE END

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