Portfolio assessment in writing classess: Implementation and assessment

In this thesis, we have evaluated four hypotheses about portfolio assessment: 1) Implementation of portfolio assessment in a writing class improves students' writing abilities. 2) Portfolio assessment leads students to improve their metacognitive skills and to be autonomous learners. 3) Portfolio assessment system is a reliable system to be utilized in evaluating students' writing abilities. Portfolio assessment system is a valid system to be utilized in evaluating 4) students writing abilities. The analyses of data about the implementation and utility of portfolio assessment supports Hypothesis 1 and Hypothesis 2. Thus, we can say that using portfolio assessment system in writing classes helps students improve their writing ability as well as their metacognitive skills. Analysis of the portfolio rubric used to evaluate students' portfolio tasks supports Hypothesis 3 and 4. Accordingly, we can state that the criteria is both reliable and valid to use in evaluating portfolio tasks.Key Words: Portfolio Assessment Metacognitive Skills Autonomy Reliability Validity