CALT Written Language and Composition Skills 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the Simple View of Writing propose as the two primary components of written composition?
- Phonics and fluency
- Spelling and grammar
- Transcription and text generation (Correct answer)
- Handwriting and vocabulary
Correct answer: Transcription and text generation
The Simple View of Writing identifies transcription (handwriting and spelling) and text generation (ideation and language) as the two primary components of written composition.
Question 2: Which of the following BEST describes dysgraphia?
- A primary deficit in reading fluency
- A specific learning disability affecting written expression, including handwriting and/or spelling (Correct answer)
- A phonological processing disorder limited to reading
- A deficit in reading comprehension only
Correct answer: A specific learning disability affecting written expression, including handwriting and/or spelling
Dysgraphia is a specific learning disability that affects the physical act of writing and/or the ability to spell, making written expression disproportionately difficult.
Question 3: In the writing process, the prewriting stage is primarily focused on:
- Correcting grammatical errors
- Publishing the final draft
- Revising for clarity and coherence
- Planning, brainstorming, and organizing ideas (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Planning, brainstorming, and organizing ideas
The prewriting stage involves generating and organizing ideas through brainstorming, outlining, and planning before drafting begins.
Question 4: Working memory plays a critical role in written composition because it:
- Controls fine motor movements for handwriting
- Allows writers to hold and manipulate multiple elements simultaneously while writing (Correct answer)
- Determines reading fluency speed
- Stores long-term knowledge of grammar rules
Correct answer: Allows writers to hold and manipulate multiple elements simultaneously while writing
Working memory allows writers to maintain and coordinate multiple processes simultaneously, including holding ideas while transcribing and monitoring for coherence and errors.
Question 5: The Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD) approach to writing instruction is distinctive because it:
- Avoids explicit instruction in favor of discovery learning
- Focuses exclusively on handwriting mechanics
- Integrates explicit strategy instruction with self-regulation and motivational components (Correct answer)
- Uses only oral language activities to build writing skills
Correct answer: Integrates explicit strategy instruction with self-regulation and motivational components
SRSD, developed by Harris and Graham, explicitly teaches writing strategies alongside self-regulation skills and motivational components, making it highly effective for students with learning disabilities.
Question 6: Story grammar refers to:
- The grammatical rules for writing dialogue
- The structural elements common to narrative texts such as setting, characters, plot, and resolution (Correct answer)
- The grammar of poetry and verse
- The syntax rules specific to creative writing
Correct answer: The structural elements common to narrative texts such as setting, characters, plot, and resolution
Story grammar refers to the underlying structural framework of narratives, including elements such as setting, characters, initiating events, internal responses, attempts, outcomes, and resolution.
Question 7: When a student with language-based learning disabilities struggles with written composition, their difficulties most often stem from weaknesses in:
- Visual perception only
- Fine motor coordination only
- Multiple language processing areas including phonology, syntax, and discourse (Correct answer)
- Mathematical reasoning
Correct answer: Multiple language processing areas including phonology, syntax, and discourse
Written composition difficulties in students with language-based learning disabilities typically reflect weaknesses across multiple levels of language processing, including phonological, morphosyntactic, semantic, and discourse-level skills.
CALT Written Language and Composition Skills 1
What does the Simple View of Writing propose as the two primary components of written composition?