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WRITING PROFICIENCY ASSESSMENT
SCORING GUIDE

  

Dept of Testing > WPA Requirements > WPA Scoring Guide


      11/12 - Clears Upper-Division Writing Proficiency (GWAR). Students who receive these scores do not have to take any additional writing classes at SDSU unless they are required to do so for their major.
      • Writing prompt is effectively and entirely addressed
      • Analysis of the reading is convincing and fully developed
      • Structure furthers the aims of the analysis
      • Examples and details are ample, providing strong support for the analysis
      • Prose style is fluent, with varied syntax and diction
      • Grammar and mechanics are very good; few errors are present

      10 - Clears Upper-Division Writing Proficiency (GWAR). Students who receive this score do not have to take any additional writing classes at SDSU unless they are required
      to do so for their major.)
      • Writing prompt is proficiently addressed
      • Analysis of the reading is reasonable, credibly presented, and well developed
      • Structure is clear, meeting the needs of the analysis
      • Examples and details provide sufficient support for the analysis
      • Prose style is good, particularly in terms of syntax and diction
      • Grammar and mechanics are solid; few distracting errors are present

      8/9 - Students who receive these scores must enroll in an appropriate "W" course. Meets junior-level competency but not Upper Division Writing Proficiency.
      • Writing prompt is adequately addressed
      • Analysis of the reading is present, if minimal
      • Structure is functional, yet mechanical
      • Examples and details support the anaysis, but occasionally may be ill chosen
      • Prose style demonstrates adequate-if basic-syntax and diction
      • Grammar and mechanics flaws are noticeable, but few distracting errors are present

      6/7 - Students who receive these scores must enroll in RWS 280 or RWS 281. Having received a C or above in either class, they must then enroll in an appropriate "W" course.
      • Writing prompt is inadequately addressed
      • Analysis of the reading is confused, repetitive or
        underdeveloped
      • Structure is forced, difficult to follow
      • Examples and details are sparse and often ill chosen
      • Prose style demonstrates difficulties with syntax and diction
      • Grammar and mechanics are poor; an accumulation of distracting errors is present

      4/5 - Students who receive these scores must enroll in RWS 280 or RWS 281. Having received a C or above in either class, they must then enroll in an appropriate "W" course.
      • Writing prompt is minimally addressed
      • Analysis of the reading is confused, simplistic or underdeveloped
      • Structure is forced, difficult to follow
      • Examples and details are sparse and ill chosen
      • Prose style demonstrates considerable difficulties with syntax and diction
      • Grammar and mechanics are very poor; an accumulation of a variety of errors interferes with meaning

      2/3 - Students who receive these scores must enroll in RWS 280 or RWS 281. Having received a C or above in either class, they must then enroll in an appropriate "W" course.
      • Writing prompt is minimally addressed
      • Analysis of the reading is confused, incoherent,
        simplistic or underdeveloped
      • Structure is forced, difficult to follow, rambling, or incomplete
      • Examples and details are virtually nonexistent
      • Prose style is incomprehensible
      • Grammar and mechanics fail; an accumulation of errors renders the essay unreadable

      0 Off Topic--Non-response essays, which reject or fail to address the question