Not a ton to report this month, as much of my reading time was spent on fiction, which I don’t usually highlight here. But I did check out a few relevant items.
First up, I read Norbert Elliot’s “On a Scale: A Social History of Writing Assessment in America.” This might be the best work on the topic, but it is a pretty niche topic. I learned a lot about why ETS raters grade TOEFL essays holistically – basically, it is pretty hard to get two raters to score an essay the same way when they are giving specific scores to various categories. That actually answers some long-standing questions I’ve had about the IELTS test, actually.
Next, I read the April 4, 2024 issue of the London Review of Books. I quite liked an article called “Zzzzzzz” about why we sleep. The topic of sleep has appeared on the TOEFL quite a few times. I think I’ll even add a question about sleep to the book I’m working on right now.
Finally, I read the latest dispatch from the Luddite Club. Now this is only available in print form and I don’t want to break that sacred trust by sharing the contents here, but if you happen to be a Luddite (or just enjoy traditional post), I do recommend joining their mailing list.
Also: I have decided to supplement this column with something called “You Should Read More Ephemera,” which will encourage everyone to read more of the odds and ends that appear on the new TOEFL, starting in January. I’ll do that by cutting out and photographing some of the various bits and bobs of English writing that cross my path. First up is a little travel guide to the mountain I look at from my window every morning, which came from a copy of “Stars and Stripes Korea” which I picked up last time I visited Incheon Airport. Enjoy:
