Rubrics, prototypes, and exemplars: Categorization theory and systems of writing placement

Abstract Categorization theory helps make sense of writing placement. As developed by psychologists, social scientists, and language analysts, current theory suggests that human acts of categorization fall roughly under three models: classical, prototypical, and exemplar. Results of actual holistic scoring, however, show that readers behave as if the categories (scale points) had prototypical structure. In many ways, prototypical and exemplar categorization support a different writing-placement method, one more efficient than the holistic, a two-tiered sequence of quick, blind, and single readings followed by careful, informed, and multiple readings. The procedure is flexible and admits wide variations. Categorization theory itself, and standard research techniques associated with it, can be productive in inquiry into writing assessment.