English Department -Composition, Literature and Film

Waiver Exam

The English department offers a waiver exam by which a student may place out of WR 121. The waiver exam is an opportunity for students who are extremely proficient writers to place into an appropriate course. A student may earn a waiver out of WR 121, but no credit hours are awarded. The three-hour exam is offered through testing services once per term (except during the summer), before advanced registration for the next quarter.

To be eligible to take the waiver exam, a student must have completed the ACCUPLACER writing exam given through the testing office. Students placing into WR 121 may take the waiver one time per academic year. There will be a fee of $50 for attempting the exam.

Spaces are limited, and advanced registration is required. After checking the hours of Testing Services (Testing Hours), email TestingOffice@lanecc.edu in order to reserve a place. Students must show valid, government-issued picture ID in order to take the exam. Prior to arriving at the Testing Office, students must register for the exam using the appropriate CRN. Your student account will be charged $50 when you register for this CRN. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled testing appointment.

Waiver testing dates for 2011-2012 are:  Fall, 11/9 & 10; Winter, 2/15 & 16; Spring, 5/2 & 3; Summer, 7/18 & 19.

In 2011-2012, the CRNs for the waiver exam each quarter are:  Fall, 24145; Winter, 33031; Spring, 43219. Summer CRN TBA.

A student who passes the waiver exam will have the waiver designated on his/her transcript. Students pursuing an AAOT will need to substitute other general education courses and credits for the waived writing course.

Some institutions may not accept a waiver exam, and students who plan on transferring should check with a counselor and the appropriate institution to determine if waiving a course is in their best interest. Similarly, students applying for admission to a health career professional/technical program at LCC should also consult with an advisor or counselor before pursuing this option.

Structure of the Exam:

Students are provided with a source essay to read and respond to; Testing Services will also provide scratch paper for students to use although we encourage everyone to word-process his/her essay. The English department handbook is available in Testing Services for student use.

In order to waive out of WR 121, the student response must demonstrate a mastery of the conventions of academic essay writing. Specifically, student essays must:

• Demonstrate critical reading skills in response to the assigned text
• Make appropriate and effective rhetorical choices for the subject matter, considering audience and purpose.
• Construct a paper topic and precise thesis in response to the prompt and assigned essay
• Develop evidence/support for the thesis
• Adopt appropriate tone, voice, point of view, and rhetorical strategies for the thesis
• Organize ideas coherently and logically, using appropriate transitional cues
• Structure and develop paragraphs
• Compose an effective introduction and conclusion
• Demonstrate an ability to summarize, paraphrase, and quote sources, as appropriate
• Utilize MLA or APA style for the attribution of sources referenced (handbooks are available in the Testing Offices)
• Write clearly, utilizing the conventions of Edited Standard Written English (ESWE)

Students may word-process (on the equipment provided by Testing Services) or hand-write their essays. Anything hand-written must be legible.