Petition for Exemption
ENGL302 - Advanced Composition
ACADEMIC YEAR 08-09 DATES:
SUBMISSION ACCEPTANCE BEGINS: JUNE 2, 2008
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2009 at NOON. Any portfolios submitted after that will be returned to the student.
ENGL101 Exams: Information and Schedules
For more information contact: Stacey Remick-Simkins or 703-993-1162.
READ INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY!
Failure to complete requirements as stated will result in a delay in processing. It is incumbent upon students to provide all required documents in the formats requested. Students must allow at least six to eight weeks before receiving portfolio results.
Students are advised to submit portfolios two full semesters prior to expected graduate date. In the event that they have not allowed two full semesters, they should register for ENGL302 for the semester following submission. YOU MAY NOT SUBMIT A PORTFOLIO IF YOU ARE COMPLETING OR HAVE COMPLETED ENGL 302.
In order to qualify for exemption, students should present writing samples that demonstrate proficiency equal to that of students who have successfully completed ENGL302 and pass a two-hour written essay exam. Students must write the essay exam within six months from the date of notification of eligibility. Students who fail to complete the exam within this time limit will forfeit their eligibility to petition for exemption.
Students should be aware that merely submitting a portfolio does not guarantee an exemption from ENGL302. If exemption is awarded, your transcript will reflect that you have met this general education requirement. There is no cost.
The results of the portfolio and essay exam evaluation are not negotiable. If portfolio exemption is denied, the student may not resubmit the portfolio or retake the exam and must register for a section of ENGL 302 relevant to his or her major.
Submit portfolios to:
Stacey Remick-Simkins, Robinson A487 (leave in inbox located on the far left column of faculty mailboxes) or you may drop off your portfolio during her visits to the PW and Loudoun Campuses (see ENGL 101 exam schedule for dates, times and locations)
-or-
mail to:
Stacey Remick-Simkins
English Department MSN 3E4
George Mason University
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
SUBMISSION DATES
ACADEMIC PREREQUISITES
PORTFOLIO ORGANIZATION
FOUR WRITING SAMPLES
FAQs
Submission Dates
Portfolios may be submitted anytime between June 1, 2007 and April 4, 2008 at noon.
Students are advised to submit portfolios two full semesters prior to their expected graduation date. In the event they have not allowed two full semesters, they should register for ENGL302 following submission as a safeguard in case the exemption request is denied.
Academic Prerequisites
- 45 credit hours (to include all transfer credit hours)
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Completion of ENGL100 or ENGL101 or equivalent transferred course or exemption (that is, students who have taken our exemption exam, been exempted via AP or other test score or been exempted because they completed an AA degree from a Virginia Community College) and thus are considered by the university to no longer be in need of taking English 101, are eligible to submit a 302 portfolio.
- Completion of ENGL200-level literature requirements for your major
Return
Portfolio Organization
For e-portfolio option, click here. The portfolio should be submitted in a pocket folder or binder, and the portfolio should contain the following items/elements:
- Cover sheet with name, address, daytime phone number, major/minor, G# and George Mason email address. (Results will only be sent to Mason email addresses).
- Student Agreement Form which is required before portfolio will be reviewed.
- Unofficial George Mason Transcript reflecting all credit hours by semester including all transfer credit hours accepted at George Mason. Unofficial transcripts may be obtained at https://patriotweb.gmu.edu and must include a detailed list of transfer credit hours.
- If you are a new transfer student who has not yet completed credit at Mason: One copy of official transcripts from each undergraduate institution previously attended reflecting all credit hours by semester.
- Descriptive Table of Contents including the title of each piece of the portfolio, class number and title, context in which is was written, explanation of why the piece demonstrates the kind and quality of writing expected in ENGL302. See more information on ENGL302.
- Four Writing Samples which students have the option to revise before submission.
E-Portfolio Option
Students who wish to submit an electronic portfolio should follow these directions:
- Apply for ENGL302 Exemption with Stacey Remick-Simkins
- Download the Student Agreement Form and Permission to Obtain Transcript and submit these signed to Stacey Remick-Simkins.
- Upload e-portfolio, in HTML format, to WebCT site (login and upload information will be provided to you) and submit a CD-ROM, labeled with your name, G#, and George Mason email address, which includes only e-portfolio documents (see next bullet point) to Stacey Remick-Simkins. NOTE: the CD-ROM will be retained for our records.
- The e-portfolio should include separate links for Student Agreement Form, Permission to Obtain Transcript, Descriptive Table of Contents and the four writing samples.
Four Writing Samples
One long research-based writing sample (8-15 pages of text excluding cover page and bibliography) from an upper-level (numbered 300 and above) in your major or related to your major field of study. This writing sample should demonstrate at minimum the following aspects of writing:
- research-based writing and knowledgable use of documentation styles relevant to the major
- proficiency in the integration, citation, and documentation of sources
- analytical reasoning
- logical coherence
- mastery of standard, edited, American English
Three shorter pieces (4-7 pages), one of which must be from an upper-level course (numbered 300 and above) in your major. These writing samples should demonstrate a variety of these following aspects of writing:
- address a range of audiences and purposes
- mastery of analysis, argumentation, or persuasion
- logical coherence and evidence in support of arguments
- proficiency in the integration, citation, and documentation of sources
- master of standard, edited, American English
General Comments:
- Professional or non-academic writing will not be accepted.
- Creative writing samples will be not be accepted.
- Papers from ENGL100-level courses will not be accepted.
- No more than two papers from any one course will be accepted.
- No more than one paper from a ENGL200-level literature course will be accepted.
- Papers should be free of comments and grades.
FAQs
- How long does the portfolio exemption take? A minimum of 6-8 weeks should be allowed for portfolio review. Results are emailed only to George Mason email addresses.
- How am I granted exemption? To be granted exemption, the student must pass both the portfolio and the two-hour essay exam.
- Can anyone receive exemption credit? To apply for exemption credit, a student must be enrolled in a degree program at George Mason. You cannot be completing or have completed ENGL 302.
- What happens if the portfolio receives a pass? The student is required to take a 2-hour essay exam offered once a month. The exemption process will expire six months after notification of eligibility to take the essay exam. The student should review his or her writing samples before taking the exam, as well as discipline-related online writing guides. Students will have access to the reviewers feedback on the portfolio.
- What happens if the portfolio or exam receives a no-pass? The student may not resubmit another portfolio and must register for a section of ENGL302 relevant to the major. The decision of the reviewers is final and not negotiable.
- What does an exemption mean? If you are awarded an exemption, your record will reflect completion of this general education requirement.
- What if exemption is denied? If you do not receive the exemption, this will not be reflected in your transcript.
- Do I pay tuition if I am awarded the exemption? No
- When will the exemption appear on my transcript? Exemption forms are forwarded to the Testing Center in the Office of Admissions where your records are updated. It takes two weeks to one month for the exemption to appear in your transcript. If it does not appear in your transcript within a month after receiving the results, please contact Stacey Remick-Simkins.