accuplacer writing test (1)

Accuplacer Writing Test

EssaySentence Skills

Accuplacer Essay

The ACCUPLACER writing test that UTEP administers for placement purposes and Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requirements is called WritePlacer Texas.

When you take a WritePlacer test, you will be given a topic and asked to write an essay about it. You will have to plan, write, review, and revise your essay in 60 minutes. Essays are scored on the overall quality of your writing and scores range from 0 to 8.

Instructions for the Essay You will be asked to prepare a multiple-

paragraph essay of 300-600 words on a specific topic. You should use the time available to plan, write, review, and edit what you have written. You must read the assignment carefully before you begin to write.

Your writing sample will be scored on the basis of how effectively it communicates a whole message to the readers for the stated purpose. Your score will be based on your ability to express, organize, and support your opinions and ideas, not the position you take on the essay topic.

Characteristics Considered The following five characteristics of writing will be

considered: Focus The clarity with which you maintain your main idea or point of

view. Organization The clarity with which you structure your response and

present a logical sequence of ideas. Development and Support The extent to which you elaborate on your ideas and the

extent to which you present supporting details. Sentence Structure The effectiveness of your sentence structure. Mechanical Conventions The extent to which your writing is free of errors in usage and

mechanics.

Instructions for the Essay

Be sure to write about the topic indicated and use multiple paragraphs. You may not use any books or papers or other reference materials during the test. Remember to review your writing and make any changes you think will improve what you have written.

Tips on Writing the Essay You will be given 60 minutes to write your essay.

Proctors will go through the instructions and then tell you to put your cursor in the box. Time will then begin to count down from 60 minutes.

You will not be able to draft an outline on paper after you read the prompt and before you put your cursor in the box. You will be able to use scratch paper once you have started your essay to draft an outline or brainstorm ideas.

You can also draft an outline or brainstorm ideas on the computer but be sure to erase all writing except your finished essay before your time is up.

Tips on Writing the Essay Topics are often described in such a way that you must

take a position either for or against an issue. Sometimes you are given one pro and one con to get you started. Remember to take just one side (for or against) and support it. The best way to approach an Accuplacer essay is to prepare a basic five paragraph essay.

For some topics you are asked to describe a relationship. For example, you may be asked to write an essay about a famous person that you would like to spend the day with. For these types of prompts, you must be careful not to only describe the person and his or her qualities. You must also discuss how time spent with this individual would benefit you. Again, a basic five paragraph essay will work.

Six Steps for Writing a Basic Five Paragraph Essay

1. Analyze the assignment for subject and issue. 2. Take a position on the issue and write a thesis

statement which explains your position. 3. Decide on three ideas to support your position. 4. Write an introductory paragraph which includes your

position statement and your three main supporting ideas.

5. Turn each of your three main ideas into a well-developed paragraph.

6. Write a conclusion which restates your position statement and your three main ideas in different words. Do not introduce new points in your conclusion.

Sample Essay Topics Your essay will always be persuasive for an academic

audience. Some schools require each student to participate in an

organized school sport chosen by the student. People at these schools argue that athletics is an important part of the educational experience and that there should be a rule requiring participation. Others argue that students should be free to decide whether or not they wish to participate in organized school sports.

Write an essay for a classroom instructor in which you take a position on whether participation in organized school athletics should be required. Be sure to defend your position with logical arguments and appropriate examples.

Sample Essay Topics If you could spend the day with any

famous person, who would it be and why?

Write an essay for a classroom instructor in which you discuss how time spent with this individual would benefit you. Be careful not to only describe the person and his or her qualities.

Watch Your Time Watch your time for when you have about 15

minutes left. It is CRUCIAL to your score to carefully review what you have written and amend your introduction if necessary so that it matches the body of your essay. This means that you must introduce each of your supporting points in your introduction. Also make sure that your conclusion restates your introduction in different words.

It is also very important to your score that you do a separate review for subject verb agreement, spelling and punctuation.

Good Paragraphs Make Good Essays

Each paragraph must have a clear, well supported topic sentence.

The topic must be sufficiently developed, using examples, reasons and definitions.

Sentences should be in logical order. Special terms should be defined. Unnecessary words should be left

out.

Good Paragraphs Make Good Essays

Transitions should be used, especially between paragraphs so readers will follow your train of thought.

All pronouns should have clear antecedents.

Subjects and verbs must agree. Each sentence must have a clear subject. Spelling and punctuation must be correct.

Websites to Help You Prepare If you have trouble with grammar, it will affect

your Accuplacer writing score. Following are some web sites to help you practice English Grammar:

http://blackboard.bccc.edu This web site offers links to various other sites, such as one that has 170 interactive quizzes; one that has an interactive book of traditional grammar help; ones that offer online English exercises; and others that have tests and quizzes designed to strengthen English grammar from basic to advanced levels.

http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quiz_list.htm This site has interactive grammar quizzes.

Tutoring can help you prepare

The Writing Tutors at the Tutoring and Learning Center (TLC) can help you with the entire writing process. You can meet with a tutor to discuss how to outline a topic and later to review your essay with regard to focus, organization, development and support, sentence structure and mechanics.

The TLC Learning Assistance Lab also has software called Easy Writer on which you can practice revising pre-written essays.

The Writing Room

The TLC Writing Room is open during the following hours:

Mondays through Thursday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Fridays from 9:00 am to 12 Noon

Services are offered on a walk-in, first-come, first-serve basis and are free to currently enrolled UTEP students. Services are also extended free of charge to students who are preparing to take UTEP entrance exams, such as Accuplacer.

English Course Placements based on Accuplacer Writing

Scores Essay Sentence Skills UTEP Placement

0-2 N/A ENGL 0309 (at EPCC)3-4 N/A ENGL 03115 20-120 ENGL 03116 N/A ENGL 1311 and

ENGL 01117-8 N/A ENGL 1311

Essay Sentence Skills EPCC Placement0-4 N/A ENGL 03095 20-79 ENGL 03095 80-120 ENGL 03106-8 N/A ENGL 1301

Sentence Skills Section When taking the Writing Accuplacer Test, the

Sentence Skills section will only be required if you score a 5 on the Essay. In this case, the score you get on the Sentence Skills test will indicate whether or not you have satisfied the Texas Success Initiative (TSI). What you score on the Sentence Skills test does not affect your UTEP placement.

If you score a 5 on the Essay and then you score an 80 on the on the Sentence Skills test, you will have cleared TSI. This has been the TSI policy since November 3, 2003.

Sentence SkillsSample Questions

Sample Questions 1 through 7 are Sentence Correction. The following directions apply to these first 7 questions.

Select the best version of the bold part of the sentence. The first choice is the same as the original sentence. If you think the original sentence is best, choose the first answer.


1. Ms. Rose planning to teach a course in biology next summer.

planning are planning with a plan plans


2. The baby was obviously getting too hot, then Sam did what he could to cool her.

hot, then Sam did hot, Sam did hot; Sam, therefore, did hot; Sam, trying to do


3. She hoped to find a new job. One that would let her earn money during the school year.

job. One that job. The kind that job, one that job, so that it


4. Knocked sideways, the statue looked as if it would fall.

Knocked sideways, the statue looked The statue was knocked sideways, looked The statue looked knocked sideways The statue, looking knocked sideways,


5. To walk, biking, and driving are Pat's favorite ways of getting around.

To walk, biking, and driving Walking, biking, and driving To walk, biking, and to drive To walk, to bike, and also driving


6. When you cross the street in the middle of the block, this is an example of jaywalking.

When you cross the street in the middle of the block, this

You cross the street in the middle of the block, this

Crossing the street in the middle of the block The fact that you cross the street in the

middle of the block


7. Walking by the corner the other day, a child, I noticed, was watching for the light to change.

a child, I noticed, was I noticed a child watching a child was watching, I noticed, there was, I noticed, a child watching

Sentence SkillsSample Questions: Construction

Shift

In Construction Shift questions, you are asked to rewrite the sentence in your head, following the directions given. Keep in mind that your new sentence should be well written and should have essentially the same meaning as the sentence given.

8. Being a female jockey, she was often interviewed.

Rewrite, beginning with She was often interviewed...

The next words will be

on account of she was by her being because she was being as she was

9. In his songs, Gordon Lightfoot makes melody and lyrics intricately intertwine.

Rewrite, beginning with Melody and lyrics...

Your new sentence will include

Gordon Lightfoot has make Gordon Lightfoot's in Gordon Lightfoot's does Gordon Lightfoot

10. It is easy to carry solid objects without spilling them, but the same cannot be said of liquids.

Rewrite, beginning with Unlike liquids,...

The next words will be it is easy to we can easily solid objects can easily be solid objects are easy to be

11: Excited children ran toward the loud music, and they told others about the ice cream truck outside.

Rewrite, beginning with The excited children, who had run toward the loud...

The next words will be music, they told music told music, telling music and had told

Answers to Sample Sentence Skills questions:

1 (d), 2 (c), 3 (c), 4 (a), 5 (b), 6 (c),

7 (b), 8 (c), 9 (c), 10 (c), 11 (c),

accuplacer writing test (1)

Documents