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Writing Proficiency Exam (sample) Spring 2001

Your response to the following assignment should reflect your ability as an academic writer. Do your best to develop your essay clearly and thoughtfully.

The Preparation:

Read the attached article “What Will be Built by Lego Testing? A Mess” by Kathleen Parker.   In this article, the author discusses a new alternative to standardized testing that some public schools are using to determine student success in college.  She states that students are given a Lego exercise to complete which involves leadership, motivation, adaptability, and group skills. Proponents of this Lego exercise say that it is a way for culturally and economically disadvantaged students to have the same opportunities for high education as students who perform well on standardized tests.

Sample Writing Assignment:

In this article, Kathleen Parker believes that a student needs more than leadership, motivation, adaptability, and group skills to succeed in college.   She believes that basic reading, comprehension, and analytical skills are more important for college success.

For this sample topic, write a two to four page essay in which you agree/disagree with the following:   Can a student succeed in college without good reading, comprehension, and analytical skills.

For your paper, you might examine the skills necessary for a student to succeed in college.  In order to develop your essay, you will need to include clear support for your points.  Your examples should be detailed and should reflect your understanding of the topic.  In addition, the essay should be effectively organized and easy to follow.

Evaluation Criteria:

The readers will use the following criteria in order to evaluate your essay.  Asking yourself these questions helps you meet the standards for this exam.

  1. Does the essay present a central idea? 
  2. Are all of the points developed with clear support? 
  3. Is the essay logical?  Does it make sense, and are the ideas reasonable? 
  4. Is the paper organized effectively, both overall and within each discussion section? 
  5. Is the paper focused on the topic?  Does it stay on topic throughout the essay? 
  6. Do grammar, spelling, and word usage meet the standards for a writing exit exam?