Computer Scoring of Essays
Online Information and Commentary

Lawrence Rudner and Phill Gagne, "An Overview of Three Approaches to Scoring Written Essays by Computer," University of Maryland, College Park. (Awesome bibliography and links!)

Donald E. Powers, Jill Burstein (developer of E-Rater!), et. al., "Stumping E-Rater: Challenging the Validity of Automated Essay Scoring," GRE Research, GRE Board Professional Report No. 98-08bP, ETS Research Report 01-03, March 2001.

William H. Honan, "High Tech Comes to the Classroom: Machines That Grade Essays," New York Times, January 27, 1999.

"Computer to Grade GMAT Essays," FairTest Examiner, Winter 1999. (initial response to ETS move)

Bill Walsh, "Computer Scoring of Essays a Bad Idea," Media Literacy Review, University of Oregon, Eugene, College of Education. 

From McGill University, a response to and expansion on Walsh.

Vantage Learning  -- purveyors of Intellimetric, a popular essay-scoring program

Vantage Learning site with essay evaluation demo. No explanation, but potential for experimentation and empirical analysis.

Essaytech.com  -- includes a number of links to articles on weaknesses of computer scoring of essays (since this test-prep company emphasizes that, unlike its competitors, EssayTech submits all practice essays to human evaluators).

Holt Rinehart and Winston online Essay Scoring (includes free demo!):

American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence to use Vantage Learning's computer scoring program to certify teachers!

Spin straight from a GMAT/ETS honcho, Fred McHale, in Spring, 1999:

Vantage Learning Intellimetric program used in writing classes in Columbia, SC, high school.