The Writing Competence Requirement
Albion believes that writing proficiency is an important part of a
liberal arts education. All first-year students (with the exception of
those who receive a 4 or 5 on the CEEB Advanced Placement Test) are
required to take a written placement examination during orientation.
Transfer students are required to take the same placement examination if
they have not satisfactorily completed first-year English. Students who
are identified as having serious writing deficiencies must enroll in
English 100, Writing Essentials, their first semester. Students who
perform exceptionally well on the examination are invited to defer
enrollment in a writing course until the sophomore year, when they may
enroll in English 203, Advanced Expository Writing; English 205,
Introductory Creative Writing; or English 207, Contemporary Journalism.
All other students are encouraged to enroll in English 101, English
Composition, or English 101H, Honors Composition.
In order to graduate from Albion, all students must pass a Writing
Competence Examination unless they received a 4 or 5 on the CEEB
Advanced Placement Test in English or were excused because of a high
score on the Albion College Writing Placement Examination taken by
entering students.
The Writing Competence Examination (WCE) must be taken before the
middle of the sophomore year. Students who do not pass on their first
attempt must try the examination a second time before the end of their
sophomore year. Upon a second failure, students must contact the
director of writing and schedule a meeting to review their most recent
WCE. After this initial consultation with the director of writing,
students will be required to participate in appropriate writing practice
and/or tutoring prior to attempting the examination a third time. See
below for the steps required by the director of writing.
Students who have completed 15 units or more, but who have not
fulfilled the writing competence requirement--or taken appropriate steps
with the director of writing to prepare for this examination--will be
required to register for subsequent semesters with the sophomore class.
Appropriate steps with the director of writing include
all of the following:
1. an initial meeting with the director to review the student's
most recent failed WCE;
2. arrangements determined in consultation with the director for
appropriate writing practice and/or tutoring from Writing Center staff;
3. review of writing strategies and guidelines, and practice WCE
writing until the student is authorized by the director to attempt the
WCE again.
No student may receive a degree from Albion College unless the
writing competence requirement has been fulfilled. The WCE will be
scheduled at least six times each academic year, and no special
arrangements will be made for seniors who have not passed by the last
examination, except for those students who have consulted with the
director of writing and taken appropriate steps to improve their
writing.
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