Opportunity to Learn writing is defined by three constructs (see list below). Student responses to questions related to each construct are then measured against a rubric that describes situations that would be typical if the student had "sufficient" opportunity to learn in that construct.
- Propensity to learn
- This construct looks at the extent to which students' answers on the OTL questions imply that they display the characteristics of highly committed learners identified in research literature.
- Knowledge and use of writing strategies
- Provincial English Language Arts curricula identify several writing strategies often used by strong writers. This construct is designed to assess the extent to which students are aware of, understand, and use these strategies when they write.
- Home support for writing
- This construct examines the extent to which they have support at home for writing.