FAQ: Writing Proficiency Contract |
| What is the purpose of the contract? |
| The purpose is to help you pass the Writing Proficiency Exam
(WPX). In order to graduate on time, you must pass the exam
by the end of your last semester on campus. |
| Who can sign a contract? |
| All students who have failed the WPX may sign a contract.
Transfer students may sign one if they missed an opportunity
to take the WPX because they were not yet enrolled at USP. |
| How long will it take to pass? |
| The time varies, depending on the student, but most students
need an entire semester; some need more than one or two semesters.
The amount of time and effort you put into doing your assignments
will be instrumental in determining your progress. |
| When should I sign a contract? |
| You can consider which semester is best for you, but don’t
wait until your final semester on campus. That’s very
risky; if you need more than one semester, your graduation will
be delayed. If English is not your first language, you should
sign a contract at the start of the first semester that you
are eligible to do so, so that you have as much time as possible
to improve your writing before your last semester on campus. |
| If I sign a contract, when will I take the WPX? |
| In the fall, you will have at least one chance to take an
equivalency exam at the end of the semester if you have fulfilled
the terms of the contract. In the spring, you will take the
University-wide WPX in March. If you do not pass in March, you
may continue to work in the Writing Center until the end of
the semester; then you will have a chance to take an equivalency
exam. In either semester, you will be allowed to take an early
equivalency exam if the Writing Center Director decides that
you are ready. Before you take the March exam or an equivalency
exam, you will be required to write a timed practice essay and
go over it with a member of the Writing Center staff. |
| Who grades the equivalency exams? |
| The exams are graded by members of the Writing Proficiency
Committee, which consists of faculty in a variety of USP departments. |
| Who decides how many appointments I will have each
week? |
| Prof. Gilbert, the Assistant Director, will determine your
needs, based on your individual writing problems and on the
amount of time you have before your anticipated graduation.
Most students will have one 50-minute appointment each week;
those with severe problems and/or who have only a single year
in which to pass will have more than one appointment, and in
those cases, additional appointments may be required
at some point in the semester. If it is determined by the Writing
Center staff that you need to sharpen your critical thinking
skills by discussing controversial issues, or that you need
extra work on grammar, you will be required to come to additional
weekly appointments. |
| Who will help me during my appointments?
|
| You will work with a student tutor, a professional tutor,
or Prof. Gilbert. |
| What kinds of assignments will I have? |
| Usually, you will be assigned an essay or a revision of an
essay. Sometimes you may be required to prepare plans for essays
or complete other writing exercises. Essay topics will usually
require you to argue one side of a controversial issue, like
the WPX questions. |
| What will happen during my appointments? |
| You will go over the strengths and weaknesses of your assignments
with your tutor or teacher and discuss necessary changes. The
focus will be on your individual writing problems. |
| What exactly do I need to do to keep my contract in
effect? |
Basically, you have to make a serious commitment of time
and effort. That means that you must:
- Come to your appointments with fully prepared essays,
revisions, or other assigned work.
- Spend a minimum of 2 hours to prepare for each appointment.
- Make up every absence by the end of the following week.
- Limit your absences to no more than 2, even though
you make them up.
It is considered an absence if you cancel an appointment,
cancel a make-up appointment, come more than 10 minutes late,
fail to show up for an appointment, or come unprepared. If
you have more than one appointment each week, you are still
allowed only 2 absences during the semester. |
| Why are the conditions so strict? |
| The best way to improve your writing is to write regularly;
if you stop writing for a period of time, your progress is likely
to suffer. |
What will happen if I am unable to fulfill my contract?
|
| The Writing Center will cancel it; that means that we won’t
be able to help you prepare for the WPX or allow you to take
an equivalency exam that semester. |
