Business Writing Skills Competence Levels

(c) 2001 BWC Publications

 

Business Writing Skills Competence Levels

The Evaluations

Business Writing Center professional staff evaluate employees' writing and provide ratings of competence, summaries of employees' strengths and weaknesses, and recommendations for training. The ratings can be presented in a detailed report or simple rating with rater notes. Individuals or companies can request the evaluations and reports.

Uses for the Evaluations

The ratings can be used to assess employees' training needs, evaluate their progress in accomplishing personal competency objectives, or measure the effectiveness of training provided by the company or consultants.

To evaluate the effectiveness of training, the company may provide pre-training and post-training writing samples with codes to identify each sample, but without writers' names or information that might indicate which are pre-training and which are post-training. The Center will evaluate the samples and return them with ratings. The company can use the codes on the returned samples to sort out pre-training and post-training samples and evaluate the results of the training by comparing individuals' progress and averages for the entire group. Center professional staff are experienced in performing such studies using raters and have published articles about the methods in professional media. They will walk the company through the process and set it up.

If requested, the Center will contract to develop a pre-post testing design with two or more raters, rater training, inter-rater reliability coefficients, intra-rater reliability coefficients, and a report on testing methodologies for inclusion in the company or institution's study report.

Diagnosis

A qualified writing specialist evaluates the writer's competence using a two-page or longer writing sample. The result may be any of the following:

  1. A formal report.
  2. Ratings for each of the eight critical dimensions required for clear, correct writing and an overall rating for the writing sample.
  3. A simple overall rating for the writing for use in evaluating a large sample of pre- and post-test writing samples.

Option 1: A formal report about the person's writing. The report contains

  • A summary of strengths and weaknesses.
  • A detailed listing of the specific problems and areas of strength in the eight critical areas: clarity, content, format, organization, planning, structure, style, and usage.
  • A copy of the document with interlinear notations about the writing using Word's review function.
  • Recommendations for training.

Option 2: Simple ratings without a formal report. The writer or administrator receives ratings in each of the eight areas critical to clarity and correctness in writing (clarity, content, format, organization, planning, structure, style, and usage), an overall rating for the sample, and a copy of the document on which the rater has written notes to assist in the rating. The notes are not meant to be a formal report. The evaluator suggests training that would benefit the writer.

Option 3: A single rating for the writing sample without a formal report. The writer or administrator receives a single rating for the sample for use in evaluating groups of trainees.

Meaning of the Ratings

Rating of 1
The writer has serious language and usage problems or inability to structure and organize writing to communicate clearly. This level of writing is characteristic of nonnative speakers with inadequate training in English as a second language, people with an impoverished educational background, and people with limited verbal aptitude. This person can be helped only by extensive one-on-one training and diligent work. The person may not rise above Level 1 in writing competence and likely will not rise above Level 2.

Rating of 2
The writer has a number of different language and usage problems or does not structure and organize writing to communicate clearly. Supervisors have observed problems in his or her writing or the person has received unfavorable comments about his or her writing from colleagues or customers. This person can be trained to overcome most of the writing problems and rise to a Level 3 with a 70 percent to 90 percent level of competence. This writer probably will not rise to a Level 4 unless the person and company are willing to involve the writer in an extended period of training.

Rating of 3
The writer's documents are clear and correct most of the time, but they display a small number of language and usage problems, especially in the areas in which business writers normally experience difficulty such as commas and other punctuation. This person can learn the skills to become a Level 4 writer. With additional training in usage and editing skills, the person could then advance to a Level 5.

Rating of 4
The writer is very competent in all areas of writing and does not need training in basic writing skills or business writing skills. He or she probably has a native verbal ability. This person will benefit from the advanced courses, such as Editing Skills and Proofreading skills. With advanced training, this person could advance to Level 5.

Rating of 5
The writer is unusually competent and has no flaws in his or her writing. He or she communicates in creative ways to enhance the reader's understanding and appreciation of the content. This writer is able to edit and proofread others' work. The person may train others in writing skills.
Fees

Writing evaluation with a formal report $75

Rating for each of the eight critical areas of writing competence (clarity, content, format, organization, planning, structure, style, and usage) without a report but including the rater's notations in a copy of the writing sample

$29 ($25 for 20 or more samples)
Simple overall rating for writing samples in groups of 20 or more samples $13 per sample
Developing an evaluation design for a company or institution, training raters, providing inter-rater and intra-rater reliability coefficients, and performing blind ratings On contract, with fees depending on the contract

Close this window to return to the main page.