Teacher Education Writing Exam

Teacher Educator Licensing Links

 

Objective: to assess a student’s spontaneous writing ability. Teachers are always involved in ‘on-the-spot’ writing situations, this exam will focus on this skill.

1. Taking and passing the Teacher Education Writing Exam is required for admission to the Teacher Education Program at Utah State University.

2. The exam will be given during the first five weeks of Fall and Spring Semesters (Summer Semester may vary.) During Fall and Spring Semesters the writing exam will also be administrated during the the week of classes. It is administered in the YETC in the Education Building and at selected extension sites throughout Utah.

3. We strongly encourage you to follow the five-paragraph essay format.

The introductory paragraph, which includes a thesis or main idea. The job of the introductory paragraph is to create interest and to introduce the three main points that will be made and supported in the body of the essay.

The second, third, and fourth paragraphs support the main idea presented in the introductory paragraph. Each of these paragraphs deal with one of the specific points introduced in the first paragraph, in the same order. These paragraphs are constructed with a topic or transitional sentence first, followed by an illustration or example of that point, and finally an explanation or application of the specific example. This is the elaboration or development that the reader is looking for. This is called the PIE model: point, illustration, explanation.

The fifth or concluding paragraph, ties it all together and uses new language (to avoid redundancy) to summarize the point made.

4. All exams are corrected on campus at Utah State University by a minimum of two readers.

5. Students are e-mailed and advisors are sent a copy of the test results. The exam is returned to the student if they fail.

6. Students who fail the exam after their first attempt must view the retake video. This video session will focus on providing students with strategies to enhance the success of students who attempt the teacher education writing exam. No fee payment is required to view the Teacher Education Writing Examination Video.

Students who fail the writing exam after viewing the Teacher Education Writing Examination Video will be required to begin USU’s Writing Center’s Proficiency Skills Development Process. The Proficiency Skills Development fee for Teacher Education students will be $100 beginning Fall 2004. This fee will cover a period of 15 weeks only from the time the student completes his/her entrance interview. At the end of the 15 weeks, he/she will retake the test, ready or not. If the student does not pass, he/she will pay another $100 fee to restart or continue the process.

College of Education and Human Resources Writing Examination Definitions of Assessment Criteria


Remember you’ll need to write a long enough piece (at least a full page of writing) for readers to judge your writing skills—organization, development, fluency, accuracy, and clarity of message. A definition of these skills follows:

Organization: All good writing is organized around a central idea from which the supporting ideas radiate in some order—chronological or logical. Readers will be looking for your ability to state clearly the purpose of your document, to choose supporting ideas that are linked to your central purpose, and to provide a suitable order for the ideas, culminating in a conclusion that ties the ideas together.

Development: Good writing has sufficient detail for its ideas. These details come from a number of sources: life’s experiences, reading, discussion in classrooms or with friends, and television. Your readers will be looking for your ability to use detailed material in a manner that gives credence to your document.

Fluency: Good writing flows easily from the central point to the supporting points and then to details used to give authority to the document. Fluency comes from the writer’s ability to use key words set up in the main point of the document and from transitional words and phrases that link the individual paragraphs to each other and to the central point or thesis. The readers will be looking for your ability to use techniques such as these to provide a sense of unity of purpose and coherence between and among the various ideas you are presenting.

Accuracy: All good writing conforms to common English written standards so that errors do not interrupt the fluency of the piece for the reader. In addition, good writers want to present themselves in a manner that will encourage readers to take them seriously. Accuracy of presentation is, therefore, essential. Writers should take special care to proofread the document for accuracy of spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Readers will be looking for your ability to present yourself as an educated and careful writer.

Clarity: Good writers want their message to make an impact on the intended audience. Interesting information, a clear message, and adherence to the standards of the form of your piece will impress the reader. Graders will be looking for your ability to present your message interestingly, clearly, and succinctly.