ENGL 1101/13 Exit Essay
Students are required to pass the Exit Essay, a timed test of reading and writing, in order to move on from ENGL 1101/13 to 1102/14. This is a short essay (50 minutes) based on a reading. Your instructor will inform you of the date of the Exit Essay in your course. You will receive your Exit Essay reading several days ahead of time, or you can download it on this page.
Your essay will be rated anonymously by three English instructors. In order for you to pass the Exit Essay and move on to ENGL 1102/14, two out of the three raters must give your essay a passing rating (Low Pass, Moderate Pass or High Pass).
Note: The Exit Essay is linked to your ENGL 1101/13 course, similar to a final exam. If you pass the essay but fail the course, you will need to take and pass it again when you repeat the course. It is not like the former Regents' Exam, which was taken independently of any course and only needed to be passed once.
Appeals
Students who fail the Exit Essay will receive a D or F in ENGL 1101/13 and will need to repeat the course. If an instructor wishes to appeal a student's failing Exit Essay grade, the instructor may submit the student's course portfolio to the Appeals Committee by the designated deadline. The portfolio will undergo a separate rating process through which the appeal will be approved or denied.
Note: Students will not be informed of their Exit Essay grades or appeal status until final course grades are given. Previously, instructors often informed their students of their Exit Essay grades and appeal status prior to Finals Week. This policy has been revised to prevent students from attempting to intervene in the appeal process. Please be aware that the instructor alone decides whether or not to submit a portfolio for appeal; this decision will depend on the quality of the student's portfolio work and the chances of succeeding in an appeal. Please contact Mike Garcia with any questions about this policy.
Notes for the day of your Exit Essay
- As you write your Exit Essay, you are not allowed to refer to the reading, any websites or any notes written prior to the exam time. You may not have any items in front of you other than the cover sheet for the Exit Essay (that is, the sheet that contains the expository and argumentative prompts) and a blank sheet of paper for taking notes. You may not have any screens or programs open on your computer other than the Exit Essay document itself. You may use the spell check and grammar check functions provided within the word processing software.
- You must type your Exit Essay in a word processor and submit printed copies of your finished essay unless you have received documentation from Testing and Disability Services exempting you from this requirement. If your exempton permits you to write your essay by hand, your instructor must make three photocopies of your essay.
- You should save your Exit Essay frequently on your Z:\ drive as you write. If your Exit Essay document is lost before you have a chance to print it, you will not be permitted to extend the time limit for turning in your essay.
- If you have any computer problems in the lab, please inform your instructor immediately so he or she can decide on a course of action that will enable you to continue writing the essay.
- You will need to print three copies of your Exit Essay and the cover sheet when you're finished. Make sure you have sufficient funds in your printing account for doing so.
No-show policy
Students who do not take their Exit Essay at the designated time will fail it, and instructors will not submit their portfolios for appeal. This means they will receive a D or F in the course. Only students who schedule a make-up Exit Essay are exempt from this policy. In order to schedule a make-up, you must inform both your instructor and College Composition Director Mike Garcia by Friday, April 5. You must also supply a reason for your absence. Do not assume that your reason has been approved until you receive confirmation from your instructor and Dr. Garcia. If your reason is not approved, you are required to show up for your regularly scheduled Exit Essay.
You may also be exempt from the no-show policy if you have a documented emergency on the day of your Exit Essay. This reason must also be confirmed and approved by your instructor and Dr. Garcia, and you must schedule and pass a make-up Exit Essay as soon as possible after your emergency.
