WPJ Workshop for Students with

Disabilities

Part IDiane DeSmet

English Writing Instructor

SSWD

sswd@csus.edu

Part I

Making the GWAR Choice:

Will it be option 1, English 109W/109M or option 2, the Writing Placement for Juniors(WPJ)?

Self Assessment

Part II

Part two will be scheduled with the writing instructor or tutor on a different day.

Write your practice WPJ essays.

Meet with your Tutor/Instructor for feedback.

Resources for Students

Writing Across the Curriculum website

Coping with Writing Anxiety

Focus your energy by rehearsing the task in your head.

Spend a few minutes doing some relaxation exercises.

Use a calming word or mental image to focus on while relaxing.

Time Management

Essay #1 (60 minutes for native English speakers/90 minutes for Mli)

Budget time for reading the texts Budget time for writing the two

essays. Budget time for editing and

proofreading the two essays.

Reading the five texts

Highlight or underline important ideas or facts.

Annotate the text. Write down opinions, questions, and ideas that arise from the texts.

Look up words that are unknown to gain a better understanding of the reading.

Brainstorming and Pre-Writing Strategies

Listing Pros and Cons

Clustering (or mapping)

Ask yourself questions

Free writing

Organization

From your pre-writing, develop a plan of action for writing the essay.

Diagramming

Develop a working outline

Writing a Thesis Statement

An argumentative thesis statement will tell your audience:

Your claim or assertion The reasons/evidence that support this claim The order you will be presenting your reasons

Example: High school graduates should be required to take a year off to pursue community service projects before entering college in order to increase their maturity and global awareness.

Writing essay #1

Write unified, developed paragraphs with main ideas that support your thesis.

Reference the reading. Use ideas from your own experiences,

personal observations, or readings . Address arguments of the other side. Make your argument first and opposing

ideas come right before the conclusion.

Details and explanations that give support to your essay

Transitional words and phrases

Some Argumentative Transitions:

CON--- opponents argue that, proponents claim that, apparently, it would seem that, one must admit

PRO---but, however, on the contrary, surely, nevertheless, yet

CONCLUSION– therefore, so, thus, and, therefore, consequently

Structure

Determine a structure appropriate for your discussion. Example below

1. Introduction2. Support Point #13. Support Point #24. Support Point #35. Opposition/Refutation Section6. Conclusion

Writing Strategies

Editing StrategiesSEE IT---HEAR IT---TOUCH IT

Read the document and use all three senses.

Look at the text, say it out loud, and touch each word at the same time.

Integrating all 3 senses at the same time makes you much more likely to find more mistakes.

Accommodations

Check with SSWD counselor if you need a test accommodation letter.

Accommodations might include…

Testing time Quiet room/small group appropriate for

testing Reader/Scribe Adaptive Computer Software/Hardware

Part 2: Practice

Practice writing essay #1 & #2 Set up a block of time Begin your “mock” WPJ and complete

your essay Attend your scheduled time with the

writing tutor Participate in the review of your

essays.

GOOD LUCK

Appendix