DEVELOPING A FRAMEWORK FOR ASSESSING DISCOURSE COMPETENCE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL LEARNERS

Discourse competence, the ability to effectively use language in contextually appropriate and coherent ways, is a critical component of language proficiency for middle school learners. This article develops a theoretical and practical framework for assessing discourse competence in this demographic, focusing on conversational, narrative, and expository discourse. Grounded in linguistic and educational theories, the framework offers a multidimensional approach integrating linguistic accuracy, pragmatic effectiveness, and sociocultural relevance. This study also proposes assessment tools and rubrics for educators, emphasizing formative and summative assessment techniques.