Essay task Strengths and Weaknesses

Part of writing
Language use

Strengths
Frequent attempts to
use discipline
vocabulary, although
this breaks down in
places.
Grasp of some more
complex sentences.
Simple sentences
generally written
correctly.

Weaknesses
Problems differing
between the use of
the Past Simple and
Present Perfect
tenses.
Reoccurring article
problems.
Insufficient use of
cohesive devices.

Mechanical skills

Spelling generally
good throughout.
Capitalisation
generally correct
throughout.

Made use of content

suiting their essays,
but perhaps limited in
scope.

Content skills

Stylistic skills

Attention paid to the

audience so that
style suits the
discourse community.

Judgemental skills

Lack of control and

knowledge of comma
usage especially
after time phrases.
Evidently a lack of
proof-reading.
Overuse of words
from sources with
little attempt to
paraphrase.
Ideas are not
developed or
supported with
examples.
Ideas generally from
other authors with
little student voice.
Copying of complete
sections translated
into English.
Incorrect use of
referencing.
Paragraphs lack focus
and often content is
mixed/separated in
other paragraphs.
Some lack of
referencing of ideas
and to images.
Use of informal
language/phrases.
Information is
typically ordered in
illogical order.
Progression
throughout essays is
difficult to follow.

Part of writing
Language use

Strengths
Good use of complex
sentences.

Weaknesses
Omission of articles
throughout.
Subject verb
agreement issues.
Double will style
Russian conditionals.
Reported speech
problems.

Mechanical skills

Content skills

Stylistic skills

Judgemental skills

Spelling good
throughout.

Attention has been

paid to keep content
relevant for the
audience.
Ideas have been
organised with some
limited organisation

Omission of commas
throughout.
Some lack of
reasoning and
supporting of ideas
and statements.
Some Personal
Statements lacked
paragraphs.
Some ideas are seen
in multiple
paragraphs.

Personal Statement Strengths and Weaknesses

language use: the ability to write correct and appropriate sentences;

- mechanical skills: the ability to use correctly those conventions peculiar to
the written language - e.g. punctuation, spelling;
- treatment of content: the ability to think creatively and develop
thoughts, excluding all irrelevant information;
- stylistic skills: the ability to manipulate sentences and paragraphs, and
use language effectively;
- judgement skills: the ability to write in an appropriate manner for a
particular purpose with a particular audience in mind, together with an
ability to select, organise and order relevant information.