Proficiency Requirements and Dates
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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.
- NOTE: The incomplete will automatically change to an F at the
end of the next semester should any of the following situations
occur:
- You do not write a new final the following semester
- The new final essay receives a failing grade
- 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 for proficiency:
TBA
Students must sign up for particular rooms on the bulletin board outside
the Write Place in ABII room 202 about 2 weeks before the tests.