Direct Writing Assessment

The Direct Writing Assessment (DWA) is a summative writing experience designed to assess student writing skills in the fifth and eighth grades. The DWA is part of Utah Comprehensive Accountability System (UCAS). In grades with no DWA, each CRT content area (English language arts, mathematics, and science) is weighted equally (one third). When the DWA is included, it counts for one half of the weight of one CRT content area.

Utah Write

The USOE has contracted with Measurement Incorporated to provide Utah students with an online writing practice program, Utah Write. Students can practice using an online writing tool and teachers can use the program as a formative assessment tool to improve writing instruction. After students submit writing, they, and their teacher, are given immediate feedback on their writing as both an overall score and in each of the six traits of writing: Ideas and Content, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, and Conventions. Students in grades five and eight are provided with access to this program free of charge. LEAs and schools may purchase student licenses for other grades.

Please contact julie[dot]benson[at]schools[dot]utah[dot]gov(Julie Benson) at (801) 538-7542 or daron[dot]kennett[at]schools[dot]utah[dot]gov(Daron Kennett) at (801) 538-7819, if you need further information about the DWA or the Utah Write practice program.

DWA Resources

2012-2013 DWA Calendar

2013 DWA Test Administration Manual

2011-2012 DWA Training Presentation

Utah Write Resources

Utah Write Student Guide

Utah Write Teacher Guide