Professor Gives CAAP Tips
Cari Elliot
Issue date: 1/19/10 Section: News
There are countless requirements for graduating, and remembering them all can be tough. There are phone calls to make, limitless paperwork to be filled, and with all these things going on at once, keeping track of all the credits required for the degree can be a little overwhelming. Pesky little classes such as Review Composition can easily be overlooked, which could ultimately halt graduation plans. With over 50 hours required for the Liberal Arts core, who needs an extra class, anyway?
Some Henderson students opt to take the CAAP Exam in hopes of eliminating Review Composition from that long to-do list altogether. And since students may only take the exam once, being prepared is vital.
Martha Cooley, Review Composition teacher at Henderson and past administrator of the CAAP, sheds a little light about the two sections of the test: the timed writing portion and the usage portion.
"The timed writing section requires quick thinking, organization and an overall well-developed essay of five to six paragraphs," said Cooley. "I recommend students take 18 to 19 minutes [of the 25 given] to develop their essay, and then use the rest of the time to make changes."
On the grammar/punctuation section, the test gives students a paragraph or longer written selection and multiple choice answers.
"The test asks students to choose whether or not [the selection] is correct or to select the correct version from three or four possibilities," said Cooley.
Because students are only allowed to take the exam once, the pressure is on to get it right the first time. Luckily, Cooley offers several studying tips to those hoping to improve their CAAP scores.
First, she strongly suggests students take advantage of the Writing Center, open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday.
"Students may come in, type for 25 minutes on a topic and request tutoring on their writing," she said. "However, I suggest that they make an appointment ahead of time for the tutoring sessions."
Some Henderson students opt to take the CAAP Exam in hopes of eliminating Review Composition from that long to-do list altogether. And since students may only take the exam once, being prepared is vital.
Martha Cooley, Review Composition teacher at Henderson and past administrator of the CAAP, sheds a little light about the two sections of the test: the timed writing portion and the usage portion.
"The timed writing section requires quick thinking, organization and an overall well-developed essay of five to six paragraphs," said Cooley. "I recommend students take 18 to 19 minutes [of the 25 given] to develop their essay, and then use the rest of the time to make changes."
On the grammar/punctuation section, the test gives students a paragraph or longer written selection and multiple choice answers.
"The test asks students to choose whether or not [the selection] is correct or to select the correct version from three or four possibilities," said Cooley.
Because students are only allowed to take the exam once, the pressure is on to get it right the first time. Luckily, Cooley offers several studying tips to those hoping to improve their CAAP scores.
First, she strongly suggests students take advantage of the Writing Center, open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday.
"Students may come in, type for 25 minutes on a topic and request tutoring on their writing," she said. "However, I suggest that they make an appointment ahead of time for the tutoring sessions."
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