Academic Skills Resource Center 

Introduction Exam Dates Practicing for the GWE Sample Essay Topics GWE Practice Module

INTRODUCTION  

The successful completion of the Graduate Writing Exam is an important graduation requirement for all PCCC students. For the Graduate Writing Exam, students are asked to write a five paragraph position paper of at least 450 words about a general topic or a topic provided by their departments. The exam usually lasts for two hours.

· When should a student register to take the Graduate Writing Exam?

Students are eligible to sit for the Graduate Writing Exam when they have successfully completed Compostition II and at least half of their department’s credit requirements for graduation (30 - 35 credits)

· Where can an eligible student register to take the Graduate Writing Exam?

Students can register for an exam date on the Paterson campus in Room A223 (Multimedia/Testing Lab). Students will be asked to give a brief writing sample before choosing a test date.

Students can register for an exam date on the Wanaque campus in Room W128 (Kathy Coffey's office). Students will be asked to give a brief writing sample before choosing a test date.

· Can failure on the GWE prevent a student from graduating?

Yes, a failing score on the GWE can delay graduation.

· Is it possible to re-take the GWE if a passing score is not earned the first time?

Yes, however, students who need to re-write the GWE essay must come to room A204 (Paterson campus) or room W128 (Wanaque campus) to work with a GWE writing specialist before taking the exam a second time. The specialists will review the students’ essays, identifying strengths and weaknesses. Specialists will also review the structure of the five-paragraph position paper and determine whether the student's best course of action would be short-term tutoring (2-3 sessions) or registration in the one credit GWE Writing Intensive course (EN117).

It is important to take the exam as soon as possible, in order to have enough time to get help, practice further and re-take it, if that should be necessary.

Contact Rhoda Rhodes (973-684-5546) for current information regarding the GWE. You can also send an e-mail to academictesting@pccc.edu .

PRACTICING FOR THE GWE

All students are encouraged to brush up on their writing skills with a GWE specialist BEFORE taking the exam. Practice is especially important if more than one semester has passed since the completion of Composition II. Take advantage of this FREE SERVICE that is available!

· Where are the Graduate Writing Exam BRUSH-UP Sessions held?

Paterson campus students can arrange to meet individually or in small groups with GWE specialists in the Reading/Writing Lab (Room A204) between 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM on Mondays through Fridays, or between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM on Saturdays. You cannot just drop in for tutor help, however. To schedule time with a tutor, please contact Rhoda Rhodes (room A219) 973-684-5546.

Wanaque campus students should arrange for GWE assistance with Kathy Coffey in room W128, 973-248-3019, kcoffey@pccc.edu .

· What else can I do to prepare or improve my writing?

We offer a one credit Writing Intensive Course (EN117) which lasts only eight weeks. It is offered at least twice each semester. The final exam for this course is the GWE itself and will be offered on a special date NOT shown on the schedule above only for those who have taken the course.

Sign up at the Center for Student Success!

If you would like to do additional practice work on your own, you can download an online GWE practice module by going to http:///asrc/Readwrit/gweMODULE.pdf

For more information about how to practice for the GWE and how your GWE essay will be evaluated, go HERE:

SAMPLE ESSAY TOPICS

Students are given a choice of two topics: one relating to their major, or one which is broader. Here are examples of past topics:

CRIMINAL JUSTICE (MAJOR)

A. Recently in Chicago, two eleven-year olds dropped a much younger child to his death from a fourteen story window because he had refused to steal candy for them. Many serious crimes such as murder, rape and carjacking are committed by juveniles. Should we treat juveniles who commit serious crimes as adult criminals or not?

In a well-developed essay of at least five paragraphs, support your position with specific details and concrete examples.

B. Recent studies claim that the "broken window" theory of crime is a major factor in neighborhood deterioration and that strict enforcement of quality of life issues such as noise, littering, loitering and truancy leads to sharp reductions in overall crime rates.

Should police be more aggressive in enforcing quality of life issues, or should they ignore these nuisance crimes and just focus on major crime?

In a well-developed essay of at least five (5) paragraphs, respond to the above

Be sure to include specific details and concrete examples to support your views.

C. Should marijuana possession be decriminalized? 

In a well-developed essay of at least five (5) paragraphs, respond to the above

Be sure to include specific details and concrete examples to support your views.

D.The death penalty continues to be a source of controversy in the criminal justice system. Do you believe that the death penalty should be abolished entirely, or are there certain circumstances for which putting the criminal to death is appropriate?

In a well-developed essay of at least five (5) paragraphs, respond to the above

Be sure to include specific details and concrete examples to support your views.

BUSINESS/ ACCOUNTING (MAJOR)

Business/ Accounting majors receive BOTH topics from the business department and do not have a choice of a general topic. There are currently NO topics available that relate specifically to business management.

A. We live in an age of new technological advances. Many of these technologies affect the way we do business as we try to cope with the rapid changes. Some of these changes create new problems such as finding highly skilled employees, and the possibility of computer fraud and copyright infringement.

In a well-developed essay of at least five paragraphs, explain how the role of computers has affected the way businesses operate and perform. Be sure to use specific details and concrete evidence to support your ideas.

B. Some people are of the belief that "everyone" cheats on their taxes, and they use this to justify their own creative accounting. Is it OK for individuals and businesses to cheat on their taxes? Use examples to support your ideas.

In a well-developed essay of at least five (5) paragraphs, respond to the above

Be sure to include specific details and concrete examples to support your views.

C. In a customer service environment, is there ever a circumstance in which a company representative should be less than polite with a customer? Explain, using specific examples to support your ideas.

In a well-developed essay of at least five (5) paragraphs, respond to the above

Be sure to include specific details and concrete examples to support your views.

D. What advice would you give to someone who wishes to start a small business? What would this person need to do beforehand, and what steps would he or she need to take along the way to ensure the success of the business?

In a well-developed essay of at least five (5) paragraphs, respond to the above

Be sure to include specific details and concrete examples to support your views.

MATH/ SCIENCE (MAJOR)

A. Some people believe that algebra is a waste of time because it is not practical to their daily lives. Others feel it is necessary for an educated person to be mathematically literate. In a well-developed essay of at least five paragraphs, argue for or against the need for algebra. Be sure to support your position using specific details and concrete examples.

B. The U.S. is known for being a strong world power, but in the maths and sciences, our students are not considered competitive with many of the students who were raised and educated in considerably less economically advanced countries. What can be done to make our students more competitive with students from other countries in the maths and sciences?

In a well-developed essay of at least five (5) paragraphs, respond to the above

Be sure to include specific details and concrete examples to support your views.

C. Should creationism be taught alongside evolution in science classes?

In a well-developed essay of at least five (5) paragraphs, respond to the above

Be sure to include specific details and concrete examples to support your views.

D. Many contend that we should limit or discontinue our space program, arguing that we have enough problems in this country which could be resolved by using the money set aside for space exploration. Do you agree or disagree with this viewpoint? Support your ideas.

In a well-developed essay of at least five (5) paragraphs, respond to the above

Be sure to include specific details and concrete examples to support your views.

EARLY CHILDHOOD (MAJOR)

A. Should children have an academic or a developmental program in the preschool? What are the advantages or disadvantages of either program?

In a well-developed essay of at least five paragraphs, support your position with specific details and concrete evidence.

B. Computers are rapidly becoming a tool in education for even the youngest of children. Do you believe that they have a value in education, or are they causing more harm than good?

In a well-developed essay of at least five paragraphs, support your position with specific details and concrete evidence.

C. Discuss your ideas of what separates a very good daycare center from one that is adequate. Do the staff, facilities, activities and other factors play a role in how effective a daycare center is?

In a well-developed essay of at least five paragraphs, support your position with specific details and concrete evidence.

D. Lately, it seems that every classroom has at least one child diagnosed with ADD or ADHD. Frequently, drugs like Ritalin are used to "calm" the child down. Do you believe that it is helpful or harmful to administer heavy medications to young children?

In a well-developed essay of at least five paragraphs, support your position with specific details and concrete evidence.

COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS (MAJOR)

A. One of the claims made for computers is that they would eliminate many of the tedious and repetitious tasks that were once performed by workers, and that they would simplify these tasks and create less waste and more efficiency on the job.

In a well-developed essay of at least five paragraphs, describe the ways in which computers have improved or complicated your life. Be sure to use specific details and concrete examples to support and illustrate your ideas.

B. Have we become too dependent on technology in our everyday lives? We can all list the advantages that come with technology, but does technology also have a negative side to it?

In a well-developed essay of at least five paragraphs, support your position with specific details and concrete evidence.

C. Recently a movie company filed a lawsuit against a grandfather whose underage grandson downloaded a copyrighted movie onto the grandfather's home computer. Is the movie company within its rights in demanding a settlement of $200,000 for the act of "movie piracy"?

In a well-developed essay of at least five paragraphs, support your position with specific details and concrete evidence.

D. The computer age has brought with it a new assortment of ailments to plague the human race; obeisity from a "passive" life style, carpel tunnel syndrome, eye strain, and perhaps others. What changes in your lifestyle have you made to protect yourself from these ailments and live a healthy, productive life?

In a well-developed essay of at least five paragraphs, support your position with specific details and concrete evidence.

NURSING/ ALLIED HEALTH (MAJOR)

A. Culture affects the way people behave as patients in the hospital. In an ethnically diverse and changing world, health care professionals come into contact with people from many different backgrounds.

In a well-developed essay of at least five paragraphs, discuss the importance of integrating cultural aspects into (health) nursing care. Be sure to supply specific details and concrete examples to illustrate your ideas.

B. What qualities does it take to be a successful emergency room nurse? Be specific to the job function.

In a well-developed essay of at least five paragraphs, support your position with specific details and concrete evidence.

C. How important are communication skills (speaking and writing) in the allied health professions? Use specific examples to develop your ideas.

In a well-developed essay of at least five paragraphs, support your position with specific details and concrete evidence.

D. Should all allied health professionals be required to perform some type of community service as part of their training? Explain.

In a well-developed essay of at least five paragraphs, support your position with specific details and concrete evidence.

LIBERAL ARTS (MAJOR)

A. "College has little to do with the real world. Doing things and experiencing them as you make your way in this world is not the same as reading about them in a book."

In reaction to the above statement, describe a "real" course you would like taught as part of the college curriculum, and give at least two developed reasons why you feel the need for such a course. Remember to use specific details and concrete examples to illustrate your "reasons."

B. Success is one of those vague terms that has an almost infinite number of definitions. How would you define success? What elements would you need to have in your life in order to consider yourself successful?

In a well-developed essay of at least five (5) paragraphs, respond to the above

Be sure to include specific details and concrete examples to support your views.

C. "Open admissions" is increasingly becoming a policy at many community colleges, meaning that any student that applies to the college will not be denied acceptance to the school. Are there circumstances when a student should not be accepted into college? Do you think that this policy is a good idea? Does it have long-term ramifications that might be harmful?

In a well-developed essay of at least five (5) paragraphs, respond to the above

Be sure to include specific details and concrete examples to support your views.

D. Most private schools and many public schools have made wearing school uniforms mandatory for students. Is this a helpful idea that can resolve some existing problems, or will it only serve to create more problems for students and the school system?

In a well-developed essay of at least five (5) paragraphs, respond to the above

Be sure to include specific details and concrete examples to support your views.

HUMAN SERVICES (MAJOR)

Topics for Human Services Majors involve case studies and the wording for the topics fits that format.

A. Jane is a 25-year-old recovering drug addict. She has been clean for almost two years and has gone for some vocational training so that she can enter the work force and support herself and her two kids instead of relying on public assistance. She has encountered some negative responses from employers who do not wish to interview her at all, or tell her that with her background, she really wouldn't "fit in" at their company. Jane is getting frustrated and has admitted to you that she has considered getting high to relieve some of the stress of constant rejection. What would you advise Jane to do?

B. Mike is a widower raising his teenaged children, a girl aged 15 and a boy of 13. He holds two jobs to support the family. Recently, his daughter came home announcing she is pregnant. The son has gotten in trouble at school lately for starting fights and defacing school property. Identify what you think Mike's problems are. How would you advise him to solve these issues?

C. Frederico migrated illegally to the United States eight years ago. He works as a day laborer and lives in squalid conditions, but he does what he can to send money back to his family. He knows he cannot get a decent job earning even minimum wage unless he can change his immigration status. What would you advise him to do?

D. Maria is married to John, an older man with a drinking problem. Their relationship is fine when he's sober, but when he drinks, he gets agitated and has been known to hit her. She does not work outside of the household and is not from the U.S., so although she wants to leave, she doesn't feel she can. She and John have one adult son who is away at college. What would you advise Maria to do in this situation?

GENERAL TOPICS (ANY MAJOR)

A. Today, we see numerous single parents, and gay and lesbian couples raising children. Can these alternative family lifestyles be accepted as "family," or is the traditional nuclear family the only positive way for people to live?

In a well-developed essay of at least five paragraphs, argue for or against changing the traditional definition of family.

Some things to consider: What qualities do people usually associate with the nuclear family? Do the alternative groups possess any of these qualities? Do they offer anything that the traditional family may not offer?

B. For many years America has been called the "Land of Opportunity," but recently, several key politicians from states such as California, Florida and New York, states with large immigrant populations, have called on the federal government to restrict the flow of immigrants to this country. They argue that immigrants overburden the social welfare system and take jobs away from American citizens.

In a well-developed essay of at least five paragraphs, argue for or against the above statement. Be sure to include specific details and concrete examples to support and illustrate your ideas.

C. Each generation wants to be remembered for its own unique contribution to society. What significant contributions has your generation made, and how do you think it will be remembered years from now?

In a well-developed essay of at least five (5) paragraphs, respond to the above

Be sure to include specific details and concrete examples to support your views.

D. Passaic County Community College is one of the very few two year colleges that requires its graduates to take a Graduate Writing Exam in order to prove that they are capable of writing at a college level. Is this a good thing, or not?

In a well-developed essay of at least five (5) paragraphs, respond to the above

Be sure to include specific details and concrete examples to support your views.

Writing Helper Slideshows - The 5-Paragraph Essay (Needs Powerpoint to see)

Thesis/Support Essays

Argumentative Essay Topics