Implementation of Formative Assessment in Teaching Business English Writing in China

This paper focuses on the understanding and implementation of formative assessment in teaching business English writing in China. After reviewing Dirksen (2011) as an anchor article, a list of activities is classified into a set of categories (i.e., before class, during class and after class) and their features are summarized as core features of formative assessment. Then the class activity “Take and pass” is used as formative assessment in assessing students’ business English writing skills. Also, the strengths and weaknesses of this activity are discussed and valuated against the developed core features of formative assessment.