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Writing Center

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Placement

Why Writing Is Important
Effective writing for professors and for audiences beyond school walls is one mark of an educated person.  Beginning in your first year, the Writing Requirements here at Stony Brook are designed to guide you through a sequence of increasingly demanding writing tasks.  Our aim is to prepare you for the rigors of academic writing in your chosen discipline as well as for the needs of a public audience. Every student at Stony Brook University must complete WRT 102 to graduate.
This requirement ensures that Stony Brook students develop adequate writing skills before graduating. All Stony Brook students must take WRT 102 and pass with a grade of C or higher in order to fulfill Stony Brook's Writing Requirement. Those students initially placed in a writing course lower than WRT 102 must complete all of the preceding courses in addition to WRT 102. (Some incoming students with advanced writing skills may be able to go directly into WRT 103, which is equivalent to WRT 102 in terms of meeting the diploma requirement.  See Placement Criteria below.) Within one year of their enrollment, all students must register for a course which works toward fulfilling the writing requirement. 

The Purpose of the On-line Writing Placement Essay
The purpose of the on-line writing placement essay is to provide us with a representative sample of your writing to determine the courses you will need to take.  The placement process is designed to get you off to the best start possible as you begin or continue your university work at Stony Brook. This assignment asks you to use a short article in an expository essay of about 2-4 typed, double-spaced pages (about 750-1000 words). We recommend you spend between 90 minutes and 3 hours composing your essay. You are not expected to do research; however, if you do, you must cite all sources. You will be required to submit an oath asserting that the work you submit is your own.

MATH PLACEMENT NOTE:  The Math Department and the Writing Program run separate placement exams.  Please contact the appropriate office for questions on each exam. We cannot answer questions about the math placement exam; they cannot field queries about the writing placement exam.

Prerequisites for Writing Courses

WRT 101:  Prerequisites have been recently revised. Most students have the option of placing out of WRT 101; however, students who score 3 on the writing examination must take WRT 101. See criteria below for determining if you should complete the online writing examination.

WRT 102: Prerequisites include a score of 4 on the writing placement examination, OR successful completion of WRT 101, OR a combined SAT verbal + writing score of 1000 to 1219, OR appropriate transfer credit.

Placement Criteria

Please read the criteria below to determine if you should complete the on-line writing placement essay:

(1) You earned a score less than 1000 on your combined SAT Verbal and Written score.  In this case, you do not complete the online writing placement essay and must enroll in WRT 101.

(2) You earned a score between 1000 and 1219 on your combined SAT Verbal and Written Score. In this case, you are encouraged, but not required, to complete the on-line Writing Placement Essay.  If you do not complete the online writing essay, you must enroll in WRT 101; if you do complete the essay, you will be placed into either WRT 101 or WRT 102.  

(3) You earned a score greater than 1220 on your combined SAT Verbal and Written score.  With the exception of those students who scored a 5 on the AP English Language/Comp or AP English Literature/Comp examination, you do not complete the online writing placement essay and must enroll in WRT 102.  

(4) You earned a score of 3 or 4 on the AP English Language/Comp or  AP English Literature/Comp examination.  In this case, you do not complete the online writing placement essay and must enroll in WRT 102.   Please mail an official copy of your AP score report to: Transfer Office, Stony Brook University, 134 Administration, Stony Brook, NY 11794-1909. You can obtain the report by calling ETS at (609) 771-7300.    

(5) You earned a score of 5 on the AP English Language/Comp or AP English Literature/Comp examination.  In this case, you may opt to complete the online writing placement essay to see if you can enroll directly into WRT 103, a more advanced writing course that can be taken in lieu of WRT 102 to fulfill the DEC A requirement for graduation. If you do not opt to complete the online writing placement essay, you must enroll in WRT 102.  In either case, please mail an official copy of your AP score report to: Transfer Office, Stony Brook University, 134 Administration, Stony Brook, NY 11794-1909. You can obtain the report by calling ETS at (609) 771-7300.    

(6) You passed, with a grade of C or higher, a college-level composition course judged to be the equivalent of WRT 102.   Please mail an official transcript to: Transfer Office, Stony Brook University, 134 Administration, Stony Brook, NY 11794-1909.  If you have earned a C or better in one of the following common transfer courses, you have completed the equivalent of both WRT 101 and WRT 102 and do not need to complete the online writing placement essay.                                                        
    Nassau Community College: ENG 101 Composition I or ENG 108 The Craft of Comp (Honors)            
    SUNY Farmingdale: EGL 101/101R Composition: Rhetoric
    Suffolk Community College: EG 11/ENG 101 Freshman Composition

Important Details for Those Completing the Online Writing Placement Essay

• You are responsible for writing your own paper. You must not have someone help you write the essay or write it for you. When you submit the essay, you will be required to write out the following statement:
  I hereby affirm that I did not discuss the reading or question for this essay with anyone. Furthermore, I affirm that no person helped me in planning, writing, revising, or editing this essay. I also affirm that, if I consulted any outside materials after looking at the reading or essay topic, I have cited the source of each external item or information or opinion.
• Students may write a placement essay only once.
•  You are submitting the essay as a Stony Brook University student. Any evidence of plagiarism, including assistance with writing the essay, will be reported as academic dishonesty and may be grounds for expulsion. For policies on responsible academic conduct, consult the Academic Judiciary Committee Home Page. Furthermore, outside help defeats the purpose of placement assessment. Incorrect placement will cost you time and money and will lower your chances of succeeding at Stony Brook.
  
  If you have questions about the online placement essay or any aspect of the placement process, please contact Stony Brook’s Writing Placement Coordinator at 631.632.7390

Schedule of Summer  2008 Writing Placement Essay Dates

• All incoming students are encouraged to take the Writing Placement Essay (WPE) as soon as possible after receiving an orientation package, but must take it at least two weeks before their orientation date.
• Students must register online prior to starting the WPE. Technical support for registration will be available at the times shown. (Note that emails or phone calls requesting support will only be answered during the hours indicated.)
• Students needing technical support for submissions by the deadline can request help by email or phone between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. on the Mondays indicated for each WPE.
• E-mail: writing@notes.cc.sunysb.edu Phone: (631) 632-7390.

Pre-Login Instructions


Students are encouraged to print out and read this entire page carefully before clicking on the log-in link on the bottom of the screen.  The login page will open in a new window.

The Stony Brook Online Writing Placement site is restricted to students of Stony Brook University.

Instructions for logging into the assessment site:

1. Locate your Stony Brook ID number: Once you have an official admission to Stony Brook, check your admission packet for your personal Stony Brook ID number.  (If you can't find yours, please call the Student Orientation Programs Office at 631.632.6710.)  This ID number functions as your initial LOGIN Name and PASSWORD. (Do NOT use hyphens or dashes or any other spaces when entering the ID number in the appropriate boxes on the first login screen.)

2. Choose an assessment date by clicking the SCHEDULE button at the upper left of this screen. Remember to choose a  date at least two weeks prior to your Orientation meeting. 

3. Go to the Login Page. Click on the link at the bottom of this section on this page.

4. First Time Login: Enter your Stony Brook ID number in both the "Login Name" and "Password" boxes and click "Register/Change Registration." The online Writing Placement Essay homepage will then appear.  You will be told to immediately change your password. Write down your new password and keep it in a safe place. Because capital letters in these passwords are considered to be different letters, be sure to note all capitals.  (NOTE:  Technical support for logins will be available only during the times specified for each period on the SCHEDULE page. If you have difficulty logging on during those times, you can receive assistance by contacting the Writing Program at (621) 632-7390  or e-mail writing@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

5. Register for the particular Assignment Period you want.

6. Enter an E-mail address that you use on a regular basis.

7. Enter a phone number where you can be reached during the online assessment period.

Instructions to follow during the Online Assignment Period

1. At the specified time and date (usually 9 a.m. Friday), both the reading and the question will become available. After you log in, follow the link "Access Reading". The link will be visible only after the "readings available" date on the schedule, so don't be concerned if you do not see this prior to that date. Print the reading so you can mark it and make notes, as well as the “How to Submit Your Essay” directions.
2. Next, follow the link to "Access Question" from either the reading page or the login page to see instructions for the writing the assignment.
3. Follow the directions for the assignment carefully. Use a word processor to compose the writing (or type in your writing in a word processor.) Do not write your essay in the text submission box. BE SURE TO SAVE YOUR WORK on your computer.
4. Use of dictionaries, spell checks, and grammar checks are permitted, but you may not have someone else help you with any part of the essay. You are not expected to do research; however, if you do, you must cite all sources. You will be required to submit an oath asserting that the work you submit is your own.
5. The Deadline to Submit your completed essay is 12 NOON on the date specified on the SCHEDULE page for your assessment period.

  

Quick FAQs

• You can sign out of the "test site" during the testing period and log back on when you are ready to submit.
• If you forgot your password (BE SURE TO WRITE IT DOWN), you can be assigned a new password via e-mail during regular business days (not on Saturday or Sunday).
• If you have trouble submitting your essay, i.e., you don’t receive the automated reply,  contact us after 8 a.m. on the deadline day by phone or email as shown on the SCHEDULE page.  Whenever you phone or e-mail us, be sure to inform us of your full name and Stony Brook ID.
• You can try to register for a session even after the session has begun, but you can get technical support to help you login only on the first day (usually FRIDAY).  So, register early!

Remember: Your Stony Brook ID serves as BOTH your initial login and password. AFTER YOU CHANGE IT, BE SURE TO REMEMBER IT! Follow this link to Online Writing Placement Login

Finding Out Your Score  

Placement 3 is given to students who need two semesters of writing practice, in order to develop more fluent use of written English and introductory college writing skills. They are required to pass WRT 101 and then WRT 102 with a grade of C or higher.

Placement 4 is given to students whose composition skills reflect a satisfactory preparation for college study. They are required to pass WRT 102 with a grade of C or higher to fulfill their Writing Requirement.

Placement 5 is given to students whose composition skills are strong. They are required to pass only WRT 103 to fulfill their Writing Requirement.

FAQs  

How do Instructors Determine My Score?
Each essay is read by two experienced Program in Writing and Rhetoric Instructors. If both agree on the placement level, that student is placed into the agreed-upon class. If the first two readers disagree, a third reads the essay and determines the placement.
If you have any questions, please contact csofia@notes.cc.sunysb.edu

May I rewrite the essay after it has been submitted?
No. You may only revise the essay before it has been submitted. Once it is scored, the computer will reject a second score.

What is the Schedule of Online Placement Assignment Periods?
Each assignment period is 75 hours long, beginning Friday morning and ending Monday at Noon (Eastern Standard Time).  You can log in and submit your essay at any time during that 75 hour period, but you must register in advance for the one you want.

What is the Deadline for Fulfilling the Writing Requirement?
All students must begin to fulfill the writing requirement within one year of their first semester. If you have trouble getting into a composition course within your first year of enrollment, please contact the Program in Writing and Rhetoric at hmilam@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

Can I Appeal My Placement?
Anyone who disagrees with his/her placement should discuss this issue with the WRT instructor during the first week of class. The individual faculty member will act as a final reader on the essay and, in consultation with the Placement/Assessment Coordinator, will make a final determination on appropriate placement for the student. Possible placements at this time include staying in the same level, moving up, or moving down.