All About Your Academic Program Congratulations! You have accepted our invitation to join Clark University. If you are like many of our new students, you have questions about getting started on your academic studies (e.g. selecting classes, looking at majors). These pages will answer those questions and help you make the right academic decisions for your bright future.
Writing Placement Online: The deadline for completing the writing placement process and submitting your writing placement essay is June 5. Click the box on the right to begin the process. Note: Select the "Writing Placement" link to complete the placement questionnaire and to read the placement essay question and submission instructions.
What is writing placement?
At Clark, one of your requirements for the Program of Liberal Studies is the Verbal Expression (VE) requirement. As the Clark University catalog explains, Verbal Expression (VE) courses are courses that place special emphasis on the relationship between writing and critical thinking within a particular discipline. You must take one VE course, preferably during your first year.
We want to make certain that as a first-year student you register for the writing class that will best prepare you for the writing you’ll do throughout your four years at Clark. To help make certain that you register for the writing course(s) that will best prepare you for writing at Clark, you must complete the writing placement process and submit your placement essay by Monday, June 5, 2006.
Does everyone have to complete the writing placement process?
The only students who do not have to participate in the writing placement process are students who have completed at least one semester of college level writing (at a college or university, or through a dual enrollment college/high school program).
Advanced Placement Form: Click here if you have completed at least one semester of college level writing. Note: Use the form on the My New Student checklist. A login is required.
All other incoming Clark students must complete the writing placement
process and submit a writing placement essay by June 5, 2006.
What if I completed an Advanced Placement course and took an Advanced Placement test?
Even if you took took the Advanced Placement test in Literature and Composition, you must complete the writing placement process. Later this summer, when Clark University has received your score on the Advanced Placement test in Literature and Composition, we will, if necessary, change your placement. If you receive a score of 4 on the Advanced Placement test in Literature and Composition, you will be placed at the VE level regardless of the placement you were given from the writing placement process. If you receive a score of 5 on your Advanced Placement test in Literature and Composition, you will be VE exempt regardless of the placement you were given from the writing placement process. If you receive a score of 3 or below on your Advanced Placement test in Literature and Composition, the placement you receive from the writing placement process will remain the same.
A score from the Advanced Placement test in Language and Composition may not be used for writing placement.
How do I complete the writing placement process?
To complete the writing placement process you will fill out a questionnaire
and write an essay of approximately 500 words after reading an excerpt from
Tracy Kidder ’s book Mountains Beyond Mountains, the book all incoming
first year students at Clark will read this summer. The essay question
is available online on the Blackboard
writing placement site. [PLEASE NOTE: You will soon receive
this book from Clark, but the excerpt from the book, which you must
read to write your placement essay, is also available online at the Blackboard
writing placement site.
The faculty members who read your essay will assess the strength of the essay's ideas and argument, organization, use of evidence, and engagement with Tracy Kidder’s text. In addition, the faculty readers will consider your essay's style and grammar.
These faculty
readers are not just from English; they are also from fields as diverse as
sociology, biology, economics, theater arts, photography and management.
If the two faculty readers who read your essay disagree on your placement,
your essay will be read by a third refereeing reader. The faculty
readers’ evaluations of your essay will determine your writing placement.
Throughout the placement process your questionnaire will help us learn about
your reading and writing experiences.
How will I find out what my writing placement is?
Check your my new student page throughout the summer for posting of your writing placement score.
Should I write and revise my essay by myself?
We strongly encourage that you not receive any
help planning, writing, or revising this essay. It is important that you
submit a true representation of your own writing if you wish be placed in
the appropriate class. You will, however, be asked to state whether or
not you received any help with your essay. Please answer honestly and
completely. Read Clark
University's Academic Integrity Policies
What if English is not my native language?
If English is not your native language, you will still complete the same Writing Placement process and
respond to the same essay question as all other incoming first year students.
This will help us determine the appropriate writing placement for you.
If English is not your native (or first, or only) language, please be certain to note this on the
appropriate question in the writing placement questionnaire you complete as
the first step of the writing placement process.
What if I have questions about the writing placement process?
If you have questions about the writing placement process, or feel you do not have sufficient online
access to complete the writing placement process online, please contact
Jennifer Plante by email at jplante@clarku.edu
or by phone at 508-793-7469. Learn more about Clark's Writing Center.
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