The National Assessment of Educational Progress uses a variety of test items and scoring techniques in measuring the writing achievement of three age groups--nine, thirteen, and seventeen year olds. This document discusses the holistic scoring of essays, including mechanical correctness and grammatical usage; the primary-trait method of scoring, with types of discourse rated according to their purposes; and the checking of content on a presence/absence basis. Included are tables of findings, examples of essays, background questionnaires, and scoring guides. (JM) Primary type of information provided by report: Procedures (Scoring); Results (Change) (Respondent Examples).