English comp with Essay (I'm about to take it)

[avi]

Is it wierd that I plan on taking english comp with essay early next week, yet I have no idea what the essay requirements are. I dont know how many paragraphs you need, if you need a hypothesis and do you need a closing paragraph. If anyone can give me a basic rundown, I would be very appreciative. Thanks in advance to all my wonderfull classmates on IC, especially the wise and helpfull snazzelfrag.

[ShotoJuku]

Is it wierd that I plan on taking english comp with essay early next week, yet I have no idea what the essay requirements are. I dont know how many paragraphs you need, if you need a hypothesis and do you need a closing paragraph. If anyone can give me a basic rundown, I would be very appreciative. Thanks in advance to all my wonderfull classmates on IC, especially the wise and helpfull snazzelfrag.

[SIZE="2"][COLOR="Navy"]Is this an exam that must take next week or have chosen to do? I say this with the greatest of cautionary advice insofar as it would be prudent to master, or at least get to know, the basics of any topic before going in - particularly writing. If at all possible try to get some information and practice skills down in advance of taking what could be a tough exam.

GOOD LUCK!![/COLOR][/SIZE]

[snazzlefrag]

Is this an exam that must take next week or have chosen to do? I say this with the greatest of cautionary advice insofar as it would be prudent to master, or at least get to know, the basics of any topic before going in - particularly writing. If at all possible try to get some information and practice skills down in advance of taking what could be a tough exam.

GOOD LUCK!!

I agree!

I was totally caught off guard by the English Comp w/ Essay exam. I aced the multiple choice part, but fell to pieces on the essay. Thankfully, I still passed.

If you have to take the exam next week you must do the following:

- Make sure you respond to the essay prompt EXACTLY. Don't go off on a tangent.
- Spend the first few minutes jotting down a basic outline on the scratch paper (it will keep you on track and help you stay focused).
- Introduce your argument/opinion/viewpoint in the first paragraph.
- Then expand on one point per paragraph.
- Aim for 3 to 5 paragraphs (3 minimum).
- 5 or 6 sentences per paragraph should suffice.
- Conclude your essay by succinctly recapping your earlier points and summating your argument/opinion/viewpoint.
- Watch your spellnig PunktuashUn nd grama :p

I wrote what had to be the crumbiest essay ever. My brain froze for about 30 minutes, and I ended up just throwing down anything I could think of. But I made sure my spelling, punctuation, and grammar was perfect, and I followed the correct form (intro, three points, conclusion).

I passed...but it was the multiple choice that carried me through...certainly not the essay.

Make sure you NAIL the multiple choice questions (terminology, grammatical correction, word order, sentence improvement etc.).

If you can do all that, you will pass. If not, POSTPONE the exam until you have had a chance to study!

You can't take ANY exam for granted! Have respect for EVERY exam! Give EACH one the study, time, and effort necessary to pass.

Best of luck,
Snazzlefrag

[Basket Weaver]

Great Advice-as usual,
I too have to take a similar test and have been searching the forum on guidelines. I took/passed the 6-credit English CLEP but Excelsior does not accept it for the English portion of the degree. In fact, they only gave me three credits for it. So now I'm forced to take their College Writing Exam (410). I'm left to assume this is "about" the same format as the test you described above? Info would be great, taking the test and giving me the credit would be better..... Lee

[Kiwi Lover]

I wrote what had to be the crumbiest essay ever.

Does that mean you dropped a lot of crumbs while you wrote it?? You know you weren't supposed to have food in there!! (Sorry Snazz...I couldn't resist!)

hilarious hilarious

[snazzlefrag]

Does that mean you dropped a lot of crumbs while you wrote it?? You know you weren't supposed to have food in there!! (Sorry Snazz...I couldn't resist!)

hilarious hilarious

Hey! I have a doctor's note!

I need my stash of cookies for...erm..."health reasons".

[ShotoJuku]

Hey! I have a doctor's note!

I need my stash of cookies for...erm..."health reasons".

[SIZE="3"]

Perhaps his script reads: "Food for Thought"

[/SIZE]

[snazzlefrag]

Great Advice-as usual,
I too have to take a similar test and have been searching the forum on guidelines. I took/passed the 6-credit English CLEP but Excelsior does not accept it for the English portion of the degree. In fact, they only gave me three credits for it. So now I'm forced to take their College Writing Exam (410). I'm left to assume this is "about" the same format as the test you described above? Info would be great, taking the test and giving me the credit would be better..... Lee

Haaa!

It is standard procedure for Excelsior to only allow 3 of the 6 credits for this exam.

There have been some excellent recent posts on the ECE College Writing exam. Have a quick look back in the list of threads, or do a search, and you should be able to find some invaluable feedback.

There IS an alternative to taking the ECE exams. It is more expensive ($420), but it fulfills the Excelsior WER and it is pass/fail (useful if you need to protect your GPA).

The exam is "English Composition I", it is part of the Thomas Edison State College Examination Program (TECEP). You can find details about this, and all TECEP exams here:

http://www.tesc.edu/students/tecep/teceplist.php

Other than the cost, another downside is that you have to find your own proctor according to their guidelines (librarian, college proctor, school teacher etc.).

Just thought I would add this option into the mix for you.

Good luck,
Snazzlefrag

[decall]

Wow.. I am lost.. I just took the Excelsior exam today.. but I had 3 essays and no multiple choice..... please advise....please:confused: :confused:

[carlosamador2006]

So I have a question - if I already took Comp I and the English Clep do you think it would fullfill my english requirements? Would I be better off just focusing on the ece exam? I am still going to talk to a counselor about it - I was just looking for other people's perspectives.