The articles contained in this volume on second language writing evaluation focus on the evaluation of academic English learned as a second language (ESL). Essays include: "Assessment by Misconception: Cultural Influences and Intellectual Traditions" (Brigid Ballard, John Clanchy); "Reading the World Differently: A Cross-Cultural Approach to Writing Assessment" (Charlotte S. Basham, Patricia E. Kwachka); "The Writer's Knowledge and Our Knowledge of the Writer" (Liz Hamp-Lyons); "ESL Writing Assessments: Contradictions and Resolutions" (Daniel Horowitz); "Pre-Text: Task-Related Influences on the Writer" (Liz Hamp-Lyons); "Holistic Assessment: What Goes on in the Raters' Minds?" (Caroline Vaughan); "Reconstructing 'Academic Writing Proficiency'" (Liz Hamp-Lyons); "Statistical Support for Training in ESL Composition: Rating" (Fred Davidson); "Faculty Assessment of ESL Students Literacy Skills: Implications for Writing Assessment" (Ann Johns); "Error Gravity: Faculty Response to Errors in the Written Discourse of Nonnative Speakers of English" (Roberta J. Vann, Frederick O. Lorenz, Daisy M. Meyer); "Placement of ESL/EFL Undergraduate Writers in College-Level Writing Programs" (Robert Carlisle, Eleanor McKenna); "Linguistic/Rhetorical Measures for Evaluating ESL Writing" (Ulla Connor); "Using Performative Assessment Instruments with ESL Student Writers" (Sara Kurtz Allaei, Ulla Connor); "Scoring Procedures for ESL Contexts" (Liz Hamp-Lyons); "Issues in Evaluating and Maintaining an ESL Writing Assessment Program" (Grant Henning); "Program Evaluation Procedures: Reporting the Program Publicly Within the Political Context" (Sybil B. Carlson); and "Issues and Directions in Assessing Second Language Writing in Academic Contexts" (Liz Hamp-Lyons). (MSE)