Programs - CSUDH Extended Education

THE WRITING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT
(Graduating Writing Assessment Requirement -- GWAR)

A requirement in all graduate programs in a California State University is that competency in writing skills must be demonstrated through one of the options listed below. Students are required to attempt to meet this requirement within the first two sessions after being admitted into the MA Beh Sci NCM program.

MA Beh Sci NCM students have the following options in meeting this requirement:

I. For students living within driving distance of the university campus:

A. Graduation Writing Examination (GWE) The Graduation Writing Examination, a voluntary test for which a fee of US $25 is charged, is available to students five times per academic year in September, November, February, April, and June. A score of eight (8) or higher must be achieved. Students who fail to score an 8 may take the test a second time. Information on exact test dates and registration procedures is available from the MA Beh Sci NCM program Coordinator.

Transfer Certification. If you satisfied the Graduation Assessment Requirement (GWAR) at another California State University campus prior to admission to the MA Beh Sci NCM Program you may have the graduation requirement waived. If you completed an advanced composition course with a "B" or higher or passed an examination in composition at another university you may also seek to have that allowed as "transfer certification." The examination must be a CSU certifying exam or its equivalent. All requests and supporting documentation (course description, etc.) should be sent to the MA Beh Sci NCM program Coordinator. The Graduate Writing Coordinator, Dr. Lyle Smith will, then make the decision.

II. For students who, because of geographic location, cannot come to the campus:

A. Graduation Writing Examination (GWE). The Graduation Writing Examination, a voluntary test for which a fee of US $25* is charged, is available to students and can be administered in your location under the supervision of a proctor whom you recommend and is approved by the MA Beh Sci NCM program Coordinator. A mutually agreeable time will be set for the administration of the examination. However, the examination will be scored at times coinciding with those given on campus. A score of eight (8) or higher must be achieved. Students who fail to score an 8 may take the test a second time. Contact the MA Beh Sci NCM program Coordinator for details. *The check must be made payable to the CSUDH Foundation and mailed to the MA Beh Sci NCM program Coordinator in advance of scheduling the examination.

B. Transfer Certification. If you satisfied the Graduation Assessment Requirement (GWAR) at another California State University campus prior to admission to the MA Beh Sci NCM Program you may have the graduation requirement waived. If you completed an advanced composition course with a "B" or higher or passed an examination in composition at another university you may also seek to have that allowed as "transfer certification" The examination must be a CSU certifying exam or its equivalent. All requests and supporting documentation (course description, etc.) should be sent to the MA Beh Sci NCM program Coordinator

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GWAR

1. What is the GWE?

The GWE is a one-hour examination in which students write an extemporaneous essay responding to a specified topic given to them when the test is administered. The topics are screened and pretested to ensure that they function well for the purposes of this examination.

2. What should students bring to the examination?

Students should bring a photo identification (e.g. driver's license, ID card, or passport), one or more large (8 ½ x 11 inches) bluebook(s), and two pens or pencils with dark lead. Two bluebooks will be mailed to the proctor for MA Beh Sci NCM students who are taking the examination under a proctor. If you are taking the test on campus you must also bring the GWE Admission Ticket stamped by the Cashier's Office. You may also bring a dictionary and/or a thesaurus. Electronic dictionaries and thesauruses are acceptable as long as they do not emit sound.

3. How many times can the test be taken?

The test can be taken twice.

4. Can one prepare for the test?

Not in the way that one might prepare for an essay examination in a course. Writing skills are acquired and refined over a period of time through instruction and practice. Students who read extensively often have strong writing skills. Students can benefit from a review of grammar and mechanics as found in any Standard English handbook. Two equally useful reference books are available at the CSUDH and other bookstores: (1) John Bobrow and Peter Orton, Cliff's Writing Proficiency Examinations Preparation Guide (Cliffs Notes, 1990); and (2) Fred Obrecht, How to Prepare for the CSU Writing Proficiency Exams (Barron's Educational Series, 1992). These can be ordered from the CSUDH bookstore. www.csudh.bkstr.com.

Students within driving distance of the campus can sign up for the preparation workshops, given a week before each exam. Contact the MA Beh Sci NCM program Coordinator for dates and locations of these workshops.

5. Is the student's attitude important in taking the test?

Definitely. All tests cause anxiety to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the individual. Everyone, including seasoned professional writers, experiences a certain amount of "writing anxiety." However, with a constructive attitude, students can often channel this anxiety into creative energy. The worst thing to do is to "fight the test" or to resist the requirement. Our advice is to get a good night's sleep before the day of the test, try not to worry about it or to anticipate its topic, and come with a positive outlook, confident of a successful performance.

6. When should the test be taken?

MA Beh Sci NCM students should take the test or seek "transfer certification" of a course during the first two sessions of the program.

7. How is the GWE graded?

Each essay is scored independently by two trained faculty readers using the GWE Scoring Guide (printed later in the booklet) on a scale of 1 to 6. Their individual scores are added together. Thus the top possible score is 12; the lowest is 2. The passing score for graduate students is 8. If the scoring by the two readers differs by more than one point, the essay is read and adjudicated by the Chief Reader or his/her assistant.

8. What does the GWE evaluate?

The GWE Scoring Guide defines the standards or criteria that the readers use to evaluate each test. In general, the GWE is designed to measure the student's ability to follow the directions and complete the specified tasks of the assignment, to compose an organized essay, to support ideas with specific examples, to use correct grammar and mechanics, and to use language effectively. Since the essay is essentially a first draft written within a limited amount of time, perfection is not expected, even for the score of 12.

9. Are special provisions made for students who are not native speakers of English?

The registration form asks students to indicate whether they are native speakers of English. Students who check "no" are given two hours instead of one to write the essay. Their essays are scored by readers who are knowledgeable about matters of second language acquisition. While some provision is made for minor variances in syntax and idiomatic usage, the essays are scored like those of native speakers with respect to major considerations of content, organization, and grammar.

10. How are you notified of the results of the test?

By mail, usually within two to three weeks following the examination or if you took it under a proctor, the results will be available two to three weeks after the campus test dates. (See schedule posted later in the web site). You should not call for results, especially not to the English Department, which does not have responsibility for the test. If you have not received your results after four weeks, contact the MA Beh Sci NCM program Coordinator.

11. What is the pass rate for the GWE?

Following are the pass rates for graduate students:

Academic Year 1993-94 65% N=497
Academic Year 1994-95 69% N=572
Academic Year 1995-96 72% N=475

12. Can the results of the test be appealed?

Not directly by you. However, you may contact the MA Beh Sci NCM program Coordinator, who will confer with you and the GWAR advisor. The GWAR advisor, after hearing the appeal, may decide to submit the essay for reappraisal. That scoring is final. You must contact the MA Beh Sci NCM program Coordinator within one year of the writing of the essay, for essays are destroyed after one year.

13. Can certification of writing competency be transferred from another institution?

Yes, we accept certification from other California State University campuses. If you have taken the equivalent of the CSUDH Advanced Composition Course, ENG 350, you may request a review of its equivalency by contacting the MA Beh Sci NCM program Coordinator. You must submit the required documentation to the MA Beh Sci NCM program Coordinator and he/she will work with the GWAR Coordinator to process your request. Contact the MA Beh Sci NCM program Coordinator for details.

14. Are other kinds of exceptions to the requirement ever granted?

Usually not. All graduate students, including MA Beh Sci NCM students, are bound by the requirement. Portfolios of papers written at CSUDH or elsewhere, published articles, earned doctorates or law degrees, testimonials or letters of recommendation are not, by university policy, taken as evidence that an exception should be made. Sometimes, however, exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis for students who have compelling reasons why they cannot meet the requirement by exam or coursework. If you believe that you can make such a case, you should contact the MA Beh Sci NCM program Coordinator who will take your request to the GWAR Coordinator.

15. What is the best course of action for students who have difficulty meeting the GWAR?

If you fail the GWE and/or a certifying course you are probably in need of intensive instruction, especially if you fail the GWE more than once. You should seek the advice of the MA Beh Sci NCM program Coordinator who will put you in touch with the proper person.