English Writing Proficiency Examination Poses Problems for Graduation
by Melanie Harvey
The English Writing Proficiency Examination is a matter of concern for the students and faculty at Tougaloo College. The exam, which consists of vocabulary, objective and essay components, is a graduation requirement for Tougaloo students. However, some seniors have found it difficult to pass the vocabulary portion.
“There are words in the context that do not make any sense, and they’re out of context,” said Chavon Hughes, 22, a senior sociology major from Newport News, Va. They need to get someone who will make that test right so students won’t have to keep taking it,” she said. Hughes also said she failed the vocabulary portion four times.
Irvin Tate, 22, a senior biology major from Jackson, who also admitted to failing the exam at the September 21 Town Hall meeting, thinks it is necessary to make changes to the exam so that students can graduate. “If the English Writing Proficiency Exam is not passed, then acquiring your undergraduate degree from Tougaloo may be prolonged because you have to pass all portions of the exam to register for senior seminar, which is a requirement for graduation,” said Tate.
However, Amanda Mims, 20, a junior political science major from Pascagoula, thinks the test has enhanced her vocabulary. “I’ve become an astute student,” said Mims.
Mims also said that Tougaloo should implement more courses to prepare students for the exam. However, Tate does not believe that the exam is necessary.
“I don’t feel that the exam is necessary because it does not give insight on my vocabulary development, my test taking skills or my ability to construct a well-organized essay throughout my time at Tougaloo. If I passed two years of English, shouldn’t this be enough to show that I have the ability to read, write, and comprehend the English language in a manner befitting for society outside of Tougaloo?” Tate said.
The English department and the Office of Academic Affairs plan to investigate the matter. “We want to investigate the English Writing Proficiency Exam,” said Dr. Abdul Turay, provost and vice president for academic affairs. Dr. Barbara Dease, dean of humanities, explained at the Town Hall meeting that the examination has no connection to the English Department.
Dease also said that other than grading the essay portion of the exam, the English Department has had nothing else to do with the examination. “Now, we are in the process of negotiating with academic affairs about what can be done to the test,” Dease said. “We (the humanities division) have not even administered the test. We have not even chosen the test. This is why we cannot understand why the fire is all of a sudden being built under us,” Dease said.
Dease was also concerned with the students’ responsibility in passing the test. She said that the vocabulary words in the exam should be a part of the students’ dialect, but because students don’t use them, then they are forgotten. “I want to emphasize that these words are not esoteric words. These are practical words that are in the dictionary and that you hear on TV all the time,” Dease said.
“Due to several complaints made to the department about the exam, we (the English department) are going to make a proposal for the exam,” Dease said. The English Department is trying to have the students take the test the first time at the end of the freshman year or at the beginning of the sophomore year. The department is also going to examine the test to determine whether there needs to be a completely new test or if they can revise the existing test. Dease believes that before anything can be done, students should be convinced that the examination is only another assessment that students will have to go through to get the end result.
Dease also said that faculty and administration welcome suggestions, but students should be ready to hear some hard truths and facts. “We can get together and talk about this, but it doesn’t do any good to say where the blame lies,” Dease said. In order for this situation to be successful, Dease said, “we [faculty] need everyone’s cooperation. We need support and if we’re going to take this thing on wholeheartedly and wholly, let it be the whole enchilada, and not just a bite or two. Because if we’re only going to get a couple of bites out of a five bite enchilada, then don’t hold us responsible for the whole five bites,” Dease said. Dr. Marilyn Coleman, dean of education, refused to comment.
The test carries a penalty fee of $25.00 to upperclassmen who did not take the test during their freshman and sophomore year. For general and registration information about the test, contact Ms. Banerjee, who is located on the 2nd floor of the L. Zenobia Coleman Library.
