What is the writing placement examination?
The writing placement examination gives you an opportunity to demonstrate to college faculty your ability to write effectively and clearly.  In the exam, you will be asked to write an essay on a topic similar to one you are likely to encounter in a college class.  You will have 75 minutes in which to plan, organize, and write your essay.


Who must take the writing placement examination?
Every entering St. Norbert College student must take the exam, with the following exceptions:

1. Students who have been accepted into the College’s Honors Program (Students whose applications to the Honors Program are pending or who are eligible but have not yet applied for the Honors Program must complete the writing placement exam)
2. Students who, through previous college coursework, are entering the College with credit in an English composition or an equivalent, designated writing-intensive course already.  If you have completed a college-level (not AP) composition or designated writing-intensive course, you must demonstrate the credit earned in this course on a college (not a high school) transcript.  You must also arrange for St. Norbert College to receive a copy of your college transcript before your orientation.  Without proof of your earned college credit, you will be required to write the placement test.
   
   If you meet either exemption above, please contact Professor Melanie Brown, Director of St. Norbert’s Writing-Across-the-Curriculum Program, at melanie.brown@snc.edu before your orientation, and check in with her in the writing examination room on the day of the exam.   

If you meet one of these two exemptions, please come to the examination room to check in with Dr. Melanie Brown, Director of the College’s Writing-Across-the-Curriculum Program, who is administering the exam.

Does my completion of an AP course in English exempt me from writing a placement essay during orientation?

No.  Your earning a score of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP English Language and Composition exam will result in your receiving credit for English 193, an elective.  Your earning a score of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP English Literature and Composition exam will result in your receiving credit for Engl 150 Introduction to Literature.  This course fulfills General Education Area 5, Creative Expression, but it does not fulfill General Education Area 9, Writing Intensive. 

As such, although successful completion of an AP English course will transfer credit toward your degree program at St. Norbert, it will not exempt your writing the placement essay during orientation.  Only credit earned by way of a composition or a designated writing-intensive course as indicated on a college (not a high school) transcript exempts students from writing the placement essay during orientation. 


How will the exam be used?
We want to be sure that you enroll in the writing course that best meets your needs and abilities.  Therefore, it is essential that you give us your best work on your essay so that we may place you into the appropriate course.

Who will read the exam, and how will I know the results?
Your essay will be read by a panel of St. Norbert College writing faculty on the afternoon of the exam.  This panel will recommend to your adviser a writing course for you to take in the fall.  Your adviser will have this recommendation when you meet with him or her to select courses the next day.

What if I still have questions?
If you have further questions, Dr. Brown will be glad to answer them on the day of the exam.  She can be reached at 920.403.3754 or at melanie.brown@snc.edu.