Tips for Taking the Graduation Writing Exam (GWE)

Testing Materials REQUIRED PROVIDED Student ID Cahier’s Office Receipt Writing Tool(s) Note: Pencils are preferable for easy editing! PROVIDED Writing and scratch paper Dictionary and Thesaurus

Fast Facts Students are given three hours to read and respond to an article. Each paper is read independently by two (2) readers. Readers do not know whose papers they are scoring. Both readers must give the paper a passing grade. In case of a discrepancy, a third reader is invited to score the paper. Neither reader is aware of how the other scored each paper.

Successful Essays Demonstrate Competent use of language Expresses ideas clearly Uses appropriate and consistent style and tone Demonstrates basic competency in grammar, diction, usage, sentence structure, punctuation, and spelling Non-native speakers are allowed some leniency Avoid slang, colloquial and informal language, and jargon Adequate organization Uses correct paragraph form with smooth transitions between paragraphs, forming a unified and coherent whole Adequate Development Adequately addresses the topic and utilizes the prompt questions focuses only on issues relevant to the assignment supports generalizations using specific examples and details.

GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS

Suggested Time Management First 30 minutes Read prompt, underline key words and passages Next 30 minutes Brainstorm response, make brief outline Next 90 minutes Write essay Final 30 minutes Proofread and revise

Understanding the Topic & Questions While reading the article, you should… Underline information directly relating to the response question(s), Underline selectively, choosing only pertinent information that is absolutely needed and focusing on key words, Glance back at the highlighted information while writing your responses to ensure you stay on-topic, Identify and underline imperative verbs, and

Answer to these Questions What is the Purpose? Who is the audience? What is my role in this situation?

What Am I Being Asked to Do? Analyze Divide the subject into its component parts and explain how each part relates to the whole Compare/Contrast Identify the similarities and/or differences between two subjects and explain why they are or are not alike Define Tell what the subject is by differentiating it from other closely related subjects (similarly, tell the reader what the subject is not) Describe Paint a word picture using sensory details (e.g., sight, smell, taste)

What Am I Being Asked to Do? Discuss Literally, “talk about” the subject, creating a precise thesis and supporting claims with evidence/details Evaluate Use relevant criteria to judge the value or worth of the subject Explain “Show” or clarify; establish connections; tell why, how, or what Identify Distinguish and list the various parts of the subject

What Am I Being Asked to Do? Illustrate Explain by example and provide details Interpret Share your personal understanding of the subject, explaining the significance of the idea, event, or process in order to explain its meaning Summarize Explain the subject briefly in your own words, demonstrating your command of certain facts or ideas

Sample Test Review the sample and highlight important information. Review the questions and connect the highlighted information to the questions.

Brainstorm & Outline Having read the article and carefully read the questions, the next step is to make a brief outline for each response. The outline should indicate the subject matter of each paragraph. Keep it short—there is not enough time for long, involved outlines!

Draft Paper Using the outline as a reference, create your introductory, body, and concluding paragraphs. Assume your reader is unfamiliar with the topic and establish the subject matter in the introduction. Resist the urge to dive directly into your first paragraph! Establish the subject matter in the introduction, using… An appropriate topic sentence Previews of your sub-topics A precisely-worded thesis statement

Sample Introduction Prompt: Create a short essay that compare the significant differences between writing in high school and college. Response: Oftentimes, students make rough transitions from the types of writing they did in their high school classes to writing for college. College writing tasks often disallow anything but 3rd-person perspective and active voice, topics have comparatively higher stakes, and professors’ expectations of writing quality are greater than those of high school teachers. Therefore, in order to prepare their students for the rigors of college writing, high school English teachers should teach the kinds of advanced writing expected of college students. Can you identify the topic sentence, previews, and thesis statement?

Following the Introductory Paragraph Continue to follow your outline as you write the rest of your response. Include important and specific details and examples to support claims. General  Specific It may be helpful to pretend your reader is skeptical of your position. Try to convince your reader of your position by following a logical order from one sub-topic to another. Watch your time! Know how many responses you need to write in order to budget your time! Continue to reference the question to make sure you remain on-topic.

Prevailing Rule of 3 In a timed writing situation, you may not be able to put in every last detail that relates to the subject. Choose which details are needed in order to accomplish a complete response while leaving out unnecessary detail. Conversely, if you find you are repeating yourself, stop and try to think of an additional detail to develop and support your thesis. You do not want to waste time or space repeating yourself! Focusing on a limited number of details helps keep you on-topic. e.g., Three previews = Three sub-topics

Revise and Polish Have you answered the question(s) clearly and completely? Add whatever details might be missing. Carefully proofread sentence by sentence, checking for misspellings and grammatical errors. Check for complete sentences, subject-verb agreement, consistent tense, word choice, and appropriate punctuation.

Following the Test You will receive your test score in approximately four to five weeks. If necessary, you may take the test a second time.

Good luck!