Proficiency Requirements and Dates

English Proficiency Final Examination: Policies and Procedures

Attention -It is vital that you read and understand the following statement: in order to pass this course, you must pass the final proficiency examination. In other words, no matter what grades you make on essays written during the semester or at mid-term, receiving credit for English 111 depends upon receiving a passing grade on the final in-class essay. Each assigned out-of -class essay can be compared to a take-home test: you are able to receive help as you write. However, the final proficiency test will prove to the English faculty that you can write acceptably without assistance.

During the course you will write at least one essay test using a writing prompt similar to the one used for the final. After your teacher points out problems in your writing, it will be your responsibility to find help in correcting these problems.

Because you are able to receive help on many essays, your mid-term grade may be good; however, please understand that even with a strong grade at mid-term, you still might not be able to write a passing essay completely on your own. Thus, it is imperative that you work hard to learn the skills necessary to write an acceptable paper by yourself.

Here are some suggestions.

Thoroughly study your teacher's comments on each returned paper.
Use your handbook to study each rule that pertains to a problem indicated in your essay.
Visit the Write Place frequently. Ask questions. If you are not satisfied with the answers, make an appointment with your teacher.

Procedure for the Final Essay Examination

All course sections will take the final at the same time-to be announced. The date will be about two weeks before the university finals begin. You will need to sign up for the computer section in advance if you plan to type.Essays will be evaluated by English faculty without consultation with each other. Writers who receive failing grades from two independent readers will not pass the course.
Those students who do not pass will have two weeks to correct their problems
with Write Place tutoring. A second test will be administered during finals week.

Policies concerning the examination and course grade

Schedule NOW with your work supervisor so that the final examination time is free. The first final is not at the regularly scheduled time. Should you be ill or have some extenuating circumstance that prevents your attendance, your only chance will be the make-up exam.
If you are registered with the Academic Support Center as having a documented learning disability, the following accommodations can be made for you: an hour's time extension, a private room, and use of computer (for spelling check). Request what you need.
The course grade for those who fail the final will be an F. However, individual teachers, at their own discretion, -have the right to give a grade of incomplete (I) to those whom they feel deserve consideration, e.g. those who have demonstrated strong effort in the course through good attendance, complete and punctual assignments, positive attitude, and Write Place visits. Anyone who receives an incomplete will be assigned to a private tutor for regular, frequent help during the following semester. Then the student will be allowed to write another essay in the next final examination. If that essay passes, it will be figured into the average as a grade of D.
1. NOTE: The incomplete will automatically change to an F at the end of the next semester should any of the following situations occur:
  1. You do not write a new final the following semester
  2. The new final essay receives a failing grade
  3. You transfer to another college
No students will be given tutoring except from Write Place tutors, an early test before next semester's final, or any other consideration due to special status. However, after conference with the teacher, the student may request a re-evaluation of the essay. If the teacher believes that the essay was graded too severely, he or she may request another evaluation by two English teachers who were not part of the first evaluation team.

Attention Athletes: Since you must pass 24 credit hours within a year, it is important that you understand the repercussions of failing any class. If you take only 12 hours each semester, a summer course will be necessary should you receive an incomplete or failing grade in this (or any other) course. Show your advisor this sheet.

Attention Junior and Senior Education majors: Since you are required to take another composition course before you graduate, look carefully at the schedule of your remaining requirements to determine when that composition course would fit in. Remember that you cannot take English 211 until you have passed English 111. Discuss the situation with your advisor.

Attention Seniors: If for some reason you have come this far in your college work and are just now taking English 111, your graduation on schedule could be jeopardized should you fail the final essay. Discuss the situation with your advisor.

General Information: Most people have no trouble passing the final essay, but some have been negatively surprised. What things caused their failures?

Lack of organization even though language skills (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure) were strong
Poor language skills even though organization was strong
Failure to discuss the assigned topic even though organization and language were acceptable
Repetitive words and thoughts which communicated almost nothing coupled with an elementary style of writing (choppy sentences, immature vocabulary)

Please take this test seriously and get regular help from the Write Place this semester.

Dates and Times for Proficiency:

January 30, 2012 - 3:30 and 6 p.m.
March 19-20, 2012 - 3:30 and 6 p.m.
April 9, 2012 - 3:30 and 6 p.m.

Students must sign up for particular rooms on the bulletin board outside the Write Place in Trask room 202 about 2 weeks before the tests.