Search
Southern Home PageAbout Southern Connecticut State UniversityAcademicsAdmissionsStudent LifeResearchAthleticsHuman Resources at Southern
photo bar
Southern Connecticut State University LibraryMySCSUSouthern DirectoryCalendar of EventsTechnologyContact Us
Department Banner

ENGLISH COMPOSITION PLACEMENT EXAM

 

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE EXAM?

The English placement exam is not really an "exam" at all; rather, it is an opportunity for you to write an essay, which will help us assess your writing, reading, and thinking skills, and to place you in the composition course that will best suit your needs as an entering student.  For that reason, you should not think of this as a "test" on which you should necessarily score "high," but a chance to provide an honest assessment of your abilities as a writer, so that you can help us place you in the most appropriate course.

We offer four different composition courses at SCSU, generally taken in sequence:

English 099:  English for Foreign Students

English 110:  Composition Writing Lab

English 111:  Composition I

English 112:  Composition II

The placement essay you write at the placement "exam" will allow us to determine where you should begin in our sequence.

 

what is the exam like?

At the "exam," you will be given information about each of the courses listed above.  You'll be asked to read the information and decide which course seems right for you, based on your own knowledge about your experiences as a writer, reader, and thinker.  You will then be given 50 minutes to write an essay in which you argue for placement into the course you have chosen.  In other words, you will help us understand where you belong not simply by demonstrating your writing skills, but also by discussing your writing experiences.

Members of SCSU's composition faculty will then determine, based on what you discuss as well as what you demonstrate in the essay, which course is best for you.

 

WHY ASK ME TO DECIDE?  wHY NOT JUST DECIDE FOR ME?

Quite simply, the answer is that you're more knowledgeable about some things than we are, including who you are as a reader and writer.  We have come to understand that in many ways you are best able to decide which writing course is right for you.  After all, you are the one who best knows the experiences you have had as a reader and writer so far in your life, and we greatly value the opportunity to learn more about those experiences from you before placing you into one of our courses.

 

why do I have to write about my choice?

Although we value your decision, we want to make sure you do not over- or underestimate your abilities and end up in a course that is too challenging or not challenging enough.  Therefore, when reading your essays, we will be considering the choice you make, as well as the strength of your argument for making that choice.

 

what if i make the wrong decision?

First of all, you probably won't.  Research has found that student are quite capable of placing themselves into the course that best fits their needs if they are given the right information.  At the "exam," we will give you the information you should need to make that decision.  We do realize, however, that the time is limited and that you might feel stressed on placement day, all of which may interfere with your ability to make an informed decision.  This is precisely why we ask you to write for us about your decision, so that we may read what you've written and, if necessary, help you to make the right choice.

 

WHAT WILL READERS LOOK FOR WHEN THEY ASSESS MY ESSAY?

  • How well do your experiences, as described, prepare you for the course in which you feel you belong?
  • How strongly do you state and support that agrument?
  • Have you developed your thesis with sufficient and appropriate support?
  • Do you have transitions between paragraphs and ideas?
  • Have you supported your reasoning with examples from outside reading and other experience?
  • Have you edited for errors in agreement, punctuation, fragments, word choice, spelling, and other mechanics?
  • We recommend that you complete some form of brief drafting (free-write, outline, or mapping) before writing the essay.  If you finish early, be certain to re-read your essay, looking for errors or places you could further develop.

 

WHAT IF I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY PLACEMENT RESULT?

If you have concerns or questions about the course into which you place, you should contact Professor Brian Johnson, coordinator of the English Placement at johnsonb2@southernct.edu or (203) 392-7049 for further discussion.  If after discussion, you still feel your placement is incorrect, you may meet with Professor Johnson to go through your placement process again, which will involve writing another essay in which you respond to a different prompt.  You must contact Professor Johnson within two weeks of receiving your result in order to be eligible to write another placement essay.