Placement in Our Writing Courses

We use the COMPASS writing score to place students. (COMPASS scores and entry code policies.)  According to the testing center, the COMPASS correctly places students based on the information they give, but sometimes students don't give it accurate information. There is some margin of error with any placement procedure. Given this error, be sure that you administer some kind of diagnostic writing during this first week so that you can see a sample of student writing early.

Placed too high? If a student seems to have much lower writing skills than required for your course, take some time to talk to the student about his/her diagnostic sample -- Might this student be better off repeating the next lower course again or taking a reading course? Is the student aware of his/her writing weaknesses? Some Writing 101 students who don't seem prepared should definitely consider taking Writing 98 and perhaps a reading course as well.

Placed too low? In the case of Writing/ESL 60 or Writing 91, occasionally we come across students who might be better off in a higher course -- Don't make the judgment based on one sample. Meet with the student, get a sense of his/her COMPASS writing and reading scores, ask about his/her writing experience and ask to see other samples. Given more information, you might recommend that the student take a higher course -- though if they want to stay in your course to get more confidence and background, this is acceptable.

Reminder about signing ADD forms to let students into your class: Before you sign any students into your class, make sure they show you proof that they have passed the previous course (transcript) or have the required COMPASS score (printout of COMPASS scores). Some students who don't have the necessary COMPASS score or who didn't pass the previous class might try to get you to sign them in.