GWAR

What is GWAR? GWAR is the upper-division writing exam that students must pass in order to receive a degree at CSUB. As a part of the English 110 curriculum, students are expected to be familiarized with the format of the test and should be proficient in the skills the test examines.

Test Format The GWAR tests the ability of the student to understand a passage and explain the meaning of the passage in his or her own words. In addition, the test examines a student’s essay writing skill as well. Part A of the test presents a student with a passage and asks the student to write a brief explanation of what it means. Part B asks the student to write an essay either agreeing with or disagreeing with the claim the writer of the passage is making.

Example GWAR Prompt: “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not absence of fear.” -Mark Twain Part A In your own words, state the main point of this passage. Part B Take a position for or against the author’s main point. In other words, do you agree or disagree? Why or Why not?

Example Brainstorm Response: Part A: Feeling fearful does not mean you do not have courage; it is how you handle that fear that makes you brave. (will be developed into a fuller explanation) Part B: I agree with Twain’s quote because fear is always around, and the only way to progress in life is to move forward in spite of the presence of fear and intimidation. (Will be developed into an Essay)

Example Prompt: “There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.” -Nelson Mandela Part A In your own words, state the main point of this passage. Part B Take a position for or against the author’s main point. In other words, do you agree or disagree? Why or Why not?

Another Practice: “We are often more treacherous through weakness than through calculation.” Francois de la Rochefoucauld. Part A In your own words, state the main point of this passage. Part B Take a position for or against the author’s main point. In other words, do you agree or disagree? Why or Why not?

Another Practice: “Our greatest pretenses are built up not to hide the evil and ugly in us, but our emptiness. The hardest thing to hide is something that’s not there.” Eric Hoffer. Part A In your own words, state the main point of this passage. Part B Take a position for or against the author’s main point. In other words, do you agree or disagree? Why or Why not?