W iti Skill T t (WST)Writing Skills Test (WST) WorkshopWorkshop

Learning Assistance Resource Center2011

Created byCreated byManuel Vasquez and Amy Lehman

AgendaI d iIntroductionThe Essay Section

planning timeplanning timeunderstanding the promptbrainstorming strategiesbrainstorming strategiesessay structure and practice

The Multiple Choice Sectionquestion typesstrategies and practice

Preparation for the WST

Introduction to the WSTG (G d i i iGWAR (Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement)

Taken prior to enrollment in 100W (after passing English 1B)

Two Parts60 minute Essay45 minute Multiple Choice test (72 p (questions; 1 and 3 point questions)

Score report within 4 5 weeksScore report within 4-5 weeksPhotos from thewaytocollege.com and superstock.com

What do I need?What do I need?(Refer to Information Bulletin)

Pens for the essay section (black or blue)

Paper Dictionary for Essay

Pencils with eraser top for Multiple Choice test

Photos from montrealpens.com and keetsa.com

FAQ

Q. Is the admission ticket mailed or emailed or both?

A. The Admission ticket is no longer mailed. It is emailed through MySJSU messaging. g y g g

Q. At what point should I worry if I don't have an admission ticket?don t have an admission ticket?

A. If you have not received your admission ticket 3 days prior to the test date, contactticket 3 days prior to the test date, contact the testing office.

FAQ

Q. Where is the test held? A This information is not disclosed due toA. This information is not disclosed due to

test security, but various locations on campus are usedcampus are used.

Q. Can I bring a bilingual dictionary?b l l d ll dA. Yes, bilingual dictionaries are allowed.

However, only one dictionary is d h d kpermitted on the desk at one time.

FAQ

Q. Can I use a watch?A Yes It must not make any noise orA. Yes. It must not make any noise or

beep during the test. Q Can I use mechanical pencils?Q. Can I use mechanical pencils?A. Mechanical pencils are not allowed

b h k dbecause they pose a risk to damaging the answer sheet and the readers do

l k h b lnot like the essay to be written in pencil because of smudging.

FAQ

Q. Can I write on the prompt paper? A. Yes, you may make notes on the prompt. , y y p p

You will also be given paper on which to make notes and plan.

FAQ

Q. Can I write on the multiple choice test?test?

A. Yes. However, you do not get any credit for anything written in thecredit for anything written in the booklet. All answers need to be transcribed to the answer sheet withintranscribed to the answer sheet within the 45 minute period.

FAQ

Q. Do the essay booklets have lines?A. Yes they do. We suggest that students write y gg

on every other line to make corrections more easily.

Q. What if I need a special chair or other accommodations?

A. Please contact the testing office no later than 2 weeks before the test date to make any

i l tspecial requests.

Scores

Essay Multiple Choice Status12 50 Waiver Eligible12 50 Waiver Eligible

(depending on major)

11 69 Waiver Eligible (d di j )(depending on major)

8-11 50 Pass

7 60 Pass

6 63 Pass

All Other Combination of Scores Fail

Objective scores are reported in standard score terms.

Score combinations

You can combine your scores if you have taken the WST more than once.

Example: Test 1 (failed) Essay:6 MC: 60

Test 2 (failed) Essay:7 MC: 55

l l Ch 60 SSEssay 7 + Multiple Choice 60 = PASS

Q. How can students combine scores?

A. Students will need to go to Undergraduate Studies in Administration Building Room 159 to combine scores. Just let the staff know and they will assist.

Scoring GuidelinesSix point scale for essay

6 is the highest1 is the lowest1 is the lowest

Two readers

Readers’ scores are added to make essay out of 12of 12.

Your essay score…Is determined by 2 readers who grade your essay from 1-6

Is graded on the following:g g

Organization

Ability to address the topic (relevance and thoughtfulness)

Coherence and cohesiveness (clear and focused)

Appropriate details and support

Appropriate language and word choiceAppropriate language and word choice

Variety of sentence structure and vocabulary

Frequency of errors

WST Scoring Guideline from the English Department

Scoring Guidelines: 66 – Demonstrates superior competence in writing on both rhetorical and syntactic levels

I ff ti l i d d d l dIs effectively organized and developedIntelligently addresses the topic, showing maturity of thought and expressiong pUses appropriate details to clearly support a thesis or illustrate ideasShows unity and consistent facility in use ofShows unity and consistent facility in use of languageDemonstrates a high level of syntactic variety and

i t d h iappropriate word choiceIs nearly free of errors

WST Scoring Guideline from the English Department

Scoring Guidelines: 55 – Demonstrates clear competence in writing on both the rhetorical and syntactic levels, though it may have occasional, minor errorsthough it may have occasional, minor errors

Generally well organized and well developed, though it may offer fewer details than a “6” paperMay address some parts of the topic better thanMay address some parts of the topic better than othersShows unity, coherence, and progressionDemonstrates some syntactic variety and range ofDemonstrates some syntactic variety and range of vocabularyDisplays facility in language

WST Scoring Guideline from the English Department

Scoring Guidelines: 44 – Demonstrates competence in writing on both the rhetorical and syntactic levels

Is adequately organizedAddresses the topic adequately, though perhaps not completelyp yUses some details to support a thesis or illustrate ideasDemonstrates adequate but not distinguishedDemonstrates adequate but not distinguished facility with language and syntaxMay contain some errors that obscure meaning

WST Scoring Guideline from the English Department

Scoring Guidelines: 3

3 – While it demonstrates some developing competence in writing, remains flawed on either the rhetorical or syntactic level or both

Inadequate development or organizationFailure to support or illustrate generalizations with appropriate or sufficient detailMultiple errors in sentence structure and/or usageMultiple errors in sentence structure and/or usageInappropriate choice or words or word forms

WST Scoring Guideline from the English Department

Scoring Guidelines: 2

2 – Suggests limited competence in writing; may be seriously flawed by one or more of the following weaknesses:

Failure to organize or developLittle detail or irrelevant specificsSerious and frequent errors in usage and sentence structurestructureProblems with fluency and focus

WST Scoring Guideline from the English Department

Scoring Guidelines: 11 – Demonstrates incompetence in writing; may reveal the writer’s inability to

h d th ti b i h tcomprehend the question, may be incoherent or impressively illogical. A paper that is severely underdeveloped falls into this y pcategory.

Papers that reject the assignment, off-topic papers, and no-response papers will be given to the table leader or chief readerto the table leader or chief reader.

WST Scoring Guideline from the English Department

15 minute planning phase

You have 15 minutes to prepare before writing your essay. How do you use thiswriting your essay. How do you use this time?

Read and reread the prompt.Read and reread the prompt.Mark the prompt.Brainstorm and outlineBrainstorm and outline.

Direct or Guided PromptFor this type of prompt, the essay structure is given, or

suggested.

Multi-part questionArgument

“Describe a special skill that you have acquired on your own. How did you first become interested in acquiring this skill and how have you been able to utilize it in yourthis skill, and how have you been able to utilize it in your life?”

“College students should have the liberty to choose theirCollege students should have the liberty to choose their own coursework. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?”

Open-Ended Prompt

In this type of prompt, studentsmay have few guidelinesmay have few guidelinesdetermine the structure/organization

“Describe the ideal work environment.”

“Describe a pastime that has helped youpersevere through a difficult time in your life ”persevere through a difficult time in your life.

Quote PromptsIn this type of prompt, you will read a quotation and might

be asked to

interpret it in your own wordsagree or disagreeapply it to your own lifeapply it to your own life

“It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”J h F K d– John F. Kennedy

Marking the prompt

Prompt Analysis

There is often background information to help you understand the topic. Read this carefullycarefully.Find key words that tell you what to do.Underline or circle themUnderline or circle them.Number each task you are asked to do.

Practice!

Many skills are used daily, and others skillsare only used in special situations. In fact, ity p ,is often said that the less we use a particularskill, the more this skill deteriorates.C l th kill ti ftConversely, those skills we practice often,tend to improve. Some people even say “Useit or Lose it ” Describe a special skill that youit or Lose it. Describe a special skill that youhave learned. How did you first acquire thisskill, and to what extent have you been ables , a d o a a you b abto utilize it in your life?

Practice!Many people learn skills that they use daily and others learn skills andMany people learn skills that they use daily, and others learn skills and

only use them in special situations In fact, it is often said that the less we use a particular skill, the more this skill deteriorates. Conversely,

Background info

those skills we practice often, tend to improve. Some people even

say “Use it or lose it.” Describe a special skill 1

2that you have learned. How did you first acquire this skill, and to what

2

3

extent have you been able to utilize it in your life?

Brainstorming Strategies

Clustering First aid (skill)

L d f H l thLearned from lifeguard job

2010

CPR/AED Basic first aid

Help others and feel confident

Helped during a car accident

Work under pressure (calm)

OutliningI Intro

Listing

CPR/AED Basic first aid a car accident – Paul last July

•First Aid/CPR/AED•Learned last summer

I. IntroA. First Aid is a useful skill

1. good for jobs2. help in an emergency

B. Thesis – First Aid has been helpful in my •Lifeguard job•Used it during that job•Used it during a car accident•Developed my

life and used in difficult situationsII. My experience

A. How/what I learned1. lifeguard training/summer job 20102 basic skills cpr coping with pressure•Developed my

confidence•Able to work under pressure

2. basic skills, cpr, coping with pressureB. How I’ve used this skill

1. Difficult situation (Paul’s car accident)

Brainstorming Strategies

If you go blank, think of these areas:

• Home• School• Work• Hobbies

Practice!

Choose a brainstorming technique and practice it with this topic:

“Many people learn skills that they use daily and othersMany people learn skills that they use daily, and otherslearn skills and only use them in special situations. Describea special skill that you have learned. How did you firstacquire this skill, and to what extent have you been able toutilize it in your life?”

Funnel Format - Introduction

Universal Truth or HookRelated to the topic

Applicable to most people

GeneralGeneral Informs the reader about

your topic and your experience

Thesis Presents your main idea(s)Presents your main idea(s)

and argument(s)

Thesis StatementsHow long is a thesis statement?

Wh d it ?Where does it go?

How much information does it have?How much information does it have?

What does it tell the reader?at does t te t e eade

Whom is the thesis about?

Tips for Body Paragraphs

Write topic sentences.Use the tell and show method

Tell the reader something.Give an example to ‘show’ the reader what you mean.

Tell: I became a much healthier person after taking the stress management class.

Show: In fact, since taking the class I have lowered my blood pressure, started an exercise plan, and reduced my stress level tremendously.p , y y

What else can I write…?Why is this important?What were you thinking during the event/process?What were you thinking during the event/process?What changed? What stayed the same?What do you think will happen in the future?

Tips for Body ParagraphsUse imagery and detail.

5 senses“set the scene”set the sceneDialog, thoughts

U l lUse personal examples.life experienceexperience of otherspwho, what, where, when, why, how

VocabularyVocabularyUse a variety of vocabulary.Avoid repetition.

Funnel Format - Conclusion

Summarize Main PointsSummarize the focus of the essayy

Expand your ideas and offer analysisWhat did you learn from experience?

How has the topic proven to be significant?

Closing StatementLeave the reader with something to think aboutLeave the reader with something to think about

Linguistic Etiquette and Norms for Writing

Things to avoid:2nd person

A oid ing “ o ”Avoid using “you”.Slang, JargonAbbreviations AcronymsAbbreviations, AcronymsContractionsStarting Sentences with “It” and Coordinating g gConjunctionsAsking questions without answering themWriting to the readerWriting to the reader

Multiple ChoiceDownload the WST Bulletin from the Testing Department’s website for a list of test question ttypes. (The bulletin is currently undergoing revision.)

Sentence Structure 25%Strategy 21%Style 21%O i ti 14%Organization 14%Grammar 11%Punctuation 8%Punctuation 8%

Multiple Choice

Skim the passageRead the answersRead the answersEliminate wrong answersRead the question in the passage( li b d(one line above and one line below)PickGuess

The following questions are taken from Barron’s CSU Writing Exams book.Photo from cartoonstock.com

Multiple ChoiceMultiple Choice(Skim, Understand, Eliminate, Pick, Guess)

The very idea of community among nations are unique. From the city-

A. NO CHANGE

B had beenstates of ancient Greece to the modern nations of our era, communities have to join forces to

B. had been

C. is

D. werecommunities have to join forces to defend their individual interests.

F. NO CHANGE

G h dG. had

H. will have had

J. have had

Passage taken from the WST Information Bulletin

PronounsPronouns

In today’s society, being a woman does not automatically mean exclusion from certain

A. NO CHANGEB. they are betweenC. she’s betweenmean exclusion from certain

jobs; studies show that women are more likely to be considered for physically demanding jobs

D. he or she is between

g jtoday, especially if she is between the ages of 25-39.

Pronouns

Smoking for an extended period of time can negatively affect a person’s lung and heart function and ultimately prevent them from achieving their optimum health.

A. NO CHANGEB. Prevent one from achieving their optimum health.B. Prevent one from achieving their optimum health.C. Prevent one from achieving his or her optimum

health.D. Prevent him or her from achieving their optimum

health.

PunctuationPunctuation

What lies behind the creative genius of our greatest authorshas been the subject of

A. NO CHANGEB. authors’C. authors,has been the subject of

speculation over the past two centuries. There is little doubt that many of the worlds creative

D. author’s

F. NO CHANGEG ld’geniuses experienced miserable

lives most often, they suffered a personal and extreme brand of d h f dl

G. world’sH. worlds’J. world’s,

deprivation that profoundly affected the quality of their lives.

A. NO CHANGEB. lives:C. lives;D. lives,

Agreement

A committee of scientists critical of the move toward robotics believethat existing methods for

A. NO CHANGEB. believe C. believesg

controlling and preprogramming the typical robot is appropriate for only a limited number of jobs in

D. have believed

A. NO CHANGE

nuclear facilities, mainly because it simply require too much supervision.

B. wereC. areD. will be

A. NO CHANGEB. it simply required C they simply requireC. they simply requireD. it simply requires

Parallelism

Operators and manufacturers of nuclear reactor power facilities are making increased

A. NO CHANGEB. increasesC increasefacilities are making increased

use of robots to improve operations and maintenance, lower operating costs

C. increaseD. increased

A. NO CHANGElower operating costs, increasing plant availability and equipment reliability, enhanced worker safety, and

A. NO CHANGEB. enhancingC. enhancesD. enhancey,

reduce exposure to radiation.

Word ChoiceCrime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a topical novel dealing with

A. No changeB. politicallyC lititopical novel dealing with

philosophical doctrines, andpolitical and social issues widely discussed in Russia

C. politicsD. that are political

F No changewidely discussed in Russia just after the 1861 reforms. By most critical essays,treating Dostoevsky’s work

F. No changeG. Because of most critical essaysH. Most critical essays,J. Most critical essaystreating Dostoevsky s work

has employed psychological or biological points of view.

y

A. No changeB. have employedC. should employD. employ

Rhetorical Style/StrategyE l iExample question types:

Who is the audience for this passage?How is this passage arranged?How is this passage arranged?Which of these sentences would best support the ideas in paragraph 4?p g pSuppose the writer wanted to change x, which sentence would be best…Wh t ki d f d t il ld b b tWhat kind of details would be bestWhich sentence would be a good introductory sentence to paragraph 3?sentence to paragraph 3?What is the most logical order for the paragraphs in this passage?

Putting Paragraphs In Order

Clues to Putting Paragraphs TogetherIntroduction or ConclusionIntroduction or Conclusion

General/SpecificSpecific/Generalp /

Topic SentencesTransitionsa s t o sDays, Months, YearsNamesNames

Putting Paragraphs In Order1 “It will have a big impact ” Macaulay said concerning the strike going to next1. It will have a big impact, Macaulay said concerning the strike going to next

year. “Mainly for the safety of ourselves as well as guests that we have over at hour house,” he said regarding inspections.

2 A strike of San José building inspectors could affect off-campus SJSU residents2. A strike of San José building inspectors could affect off campus SJSU residents, said Tom Briam, president of the Association of Building, Mechanical, and Electrical Inspectors.

3. Macaulay said if the strike continues the fraternity will have to rely on its alumni y y yto find a way to get the house inspected.

4. Tyler Macaulay, a senior business management major and president of Beta Theta Pi, said his fraternity is not highly affected by the strikes now because they

h d l f h b h ll b ff d f h kjust had inspections a couple of months ago, but they will be affected if the strike continues next year.

A. 2,1,3,4B 1 2 4 3B. 1,2,4,3C. 2,4,1,3D. 1,3,4,2

Passage taken from The Spartan Daily. December, 2007.

Rhetorical Style/StrategyAccording to the American Cancer Society, there is a 20% increase in the number of teen smokers and a similar decrease in the number of anti-smoking programs in middle schools. g p gTherefore, there is a great need to develop these new community and school programs to target teens at risk for developing a smoking habit. Although costly, such programs are p g g g y, p gproven to produce long term benefits.

Readers are most likely to regard the passage as:Readers are most likely to regard the passage as:A. InformativeB. PersuasiveC. InspirationalD. Pleading

Rhetorical Style/StrategyAccording to the American Cancer Society, there is a 20% increase in the number of teen smokers and a similar decrease in the number of anti-smoking programs in middle schools. g p gTherefore, there is a great need to develop these new community and school programs to target teens at risk for developing a smoking habit. Although costly, such programs are p g g g y, p gproven to produce long term benefits.

The audience of this passage is likelyp g yA. Board of Education officialsB. TeachersC P tC. ParentsD. Teens

Rhetorical Style/StrategyAccording to the American Cancer Society, there is a 20% increase in the number of teen smokers and a similar decrease in the number of anti-smoking programs in middle schools. Therefore, there is a great

d t d l th it d h l t t tneed to develop these new community and school programs to target teens at risk for developing a smoking habit. Although costly, such programs are proven to produce long term benefits.

Suppose at this point the writer decided to add more information.Which information would be most logical?

A. A case study of a teen affected by smokingB. A history of the tobacco industry’s marketing to teensC. Statistics from similar programs in other school districtsC. Statistics from similar programs in other school districtsD. No information is needed.

How to PrepareBarron’s How to Prepare for the California State University Writing Proficiency Exams

Time yourself and take the sample multiple choice tests (A-C).

Correct your answers using the answer keys and explanations.

Id tif h t ( ) f iti t t iIdentify what area(s) of writing you want to improve (i.e. punctuation, tenses).

Use the index and grammar section to search forUse the index and grammar section to search for specific grammatical rules. Photo from betterworldbooks.com

How to PreparePractice WST multiple choice online athttp://www.evc-cit.info/wst/ or with the Barron’s WST Preparation guideWST Preparation guidePractice brainstorming with essay promptsReview grammar pointsReview grammar points

READ:Elements of Style by William Strunk and E.B. WhiteRules for Writers by Diana HackerThe Goof Proofer by Stephan J. Manhard

Multiple Attempts

You can enroll in ENGL 100A or LLD 100A, and pass, to meet the WST requirement.meet the WST requirement.

Continue practicing and taking writing courses totaking writing courses to assist you in meeting University writing standards.

Visit tutors to review specific test taking/writing skills.test taking/writing skills.

Photo from wea-sw.org.uk