Developing Argumentative Essay Writing Test

Abstract

This article is to develop argumentative writing test needs thoroughly analysis to have appropriate test which possess high quality of validity and reliability. Writing test which has been developed in this study is argumentative writing test which is so-called Test Development Plan. The test was designed and developed on the basis of general objective of the course "Writing IV" of English Study Program Universitas Tadulako. Aspects of the test were developed systematically including critical revision, reformulation, and justification of the test format to come up with general and specific objectives of the test draft. Then, the draft was subsequently developed by setting up criteria, prompt, and scoring guide for designing and producing an appropriate format of argumentative essay writing test. The developed fomat test was tried out by asking students to write argumentative essays based on the topics assigned. The students' essays were graded by two raters to have scores for analyzing its validity and reliability. After analyzing scores given by the two raters, the developed test indicates to have high validity and reliability. Furthermore, the test has fulfilled standard of argumentative essay test and it is applicable for measuring and grading students' skill in writing argumentative essay.