Module IX in language and literature assessment

1. Module IX
Testing literature

2. Learning objectives
At the end of the Module, students should
be able to:
1. Identify the different types of literature
testing
2. Prepare sample tests in literature using
different types and format
3. Recognize the value of literature tests to
language learning.

3. A. Rationale of Literature Testing
• Literature is a humanities subject, but it is
part of most language programs of
schools.
Stern (1887) in her article, “Expanded
Dimensions in literature in ESL/EF: An
Integrated Approach,” stress the great
influence of literature to language learning.

4. B. Types of Literature Tests
• In general, literature tests may be
classified as testing literary background or
testing reading selections.
• Tests on reading selections may be
categorized according to the type of
questions asked in a literature class.

5. • According to the taxonomy of cognitive
questions, questions are classified
according to its complexity:
Literal comprehension
Reorganization
Inferential comprehension
Evaluation
Appreciation

6. C. Format of Literature Tests
• Format of literature tests addresses
specific language skills. It may be oral or
written.
Oral literature tests challenge the
speaking and listening skills of the
students.
Written tests demands skills in reading
and writing.

7. D. Examples of Literature Tests
1. Testing Literal Comprehension
- A kind of tests include recall of details,
main ideas, sequence, comparisons, cause
and effect relationship and character traits.
a. Objective type
Recall of details
• Identify the characters who said the
following lines in the story.
b. Essay type
• What are the contrasting characteristics of
the protagonist and the antagonist as
described by the author?

8. 2. Testing reorganization
Reorganization skills entail classifying,
outlining, summarizing, and synthesizing
ideas.
a. Objective type
• Classifying. Select the item that does not
belong to the group
b. Essay type
• Outlining. Construct a topic outline of the
essay providing at least three main heads
and a number of sub-heads.

9. 3. Testing Inference
Inferential tests require students to use
information explicitly stated in the text along with
personal experience and knowledge in order to
conjecture and to form hypothesis.
Tests include:
• Inferring supporting details
• Main idea
• Sequence
• Comparisons
• Cause and effect relationship
• Character traits
• Authors organization
• Predicting outcomes
• Interpreting figurative language

10. a. Objective type
• Interpreting figurative language: Choose
the best interpretations of the following
figurative lines within the context of the
poem.
b. Essay type
• Predicting outcomes: What do you think is
in store for lumnay as the symbols at the
end of the story portend?

11. 4. Testing Evaluation
Evaluation tests require the students to
compare information and ideas in a text with
material presented by the instructor.
Tests include:
• judgments of reality and fantasy;
• fact or opinion;
• adequate and validity,
• appropriateness
• Worth
• Desirability
• Acceptability

12. a. Objective type
Judgments of fact or opinion: Write O if
the following statement expresses an opinion
of a reader on the story, F if the statement is
stated by the author in the story
b. Essay type
Judgments of reality and fantasy: Do the
events in the story depict real-life situations or
are they just product of the author’s
imagination? Explain.

13. 5. Testing Appreciation
Appreciation tests require students to
articulate emotional and aesthetic responses to
the text based on personal and professional
standards of literacy forms, styles, genres,
theories, critical approaches.
Test include:
• Giving emotional response to the text
• Identifying with characters or incidents
• Reacting to author’s or speaker’s connotative
and denotative use of language
• Reacting to imagery

14. a. Objective type
• Reacting to author’s connotative use of
language: Select the best connotative
meaning of the underlined word in each
statement lifted from the story.
b. Essay type
• Identifying with characters or incidents:
Which character in the story can you
identify most? What ar your similarities?

15. E. Evaluating Literature Tests
Just like any tests, objective type of
literature tests is easy to evaluate because
there are ready answer keys to the
questions. Essay type of tests is difficult to
assess because the evaluation focuses on
both content and form.
For literal comprehension and
inference tests, content should be assigned
more weight than form. The more proficient
in language the student is, the more
chances he/she has of getting good ratings