CLEP College Composition 2nd Ed., Book + Online

by Rachelle Smith, Dominic Marulllo, Ken Springer

Overview

Earn College Credit with REA’s Test Prep for CLEP College Composition and College Composition Modular

Everything you need to pass the exam and get the college credit you deserve.

REA leads the way in helping students pass their College Board CLEP exams and earn college credit while reducing their tuition costs.

With 25+ years of experience in test prep for the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), REA is your trusted source for the most up-to-date test-aligned content. Whether you’re an adult returning to finish your degree, a traditional-age college student, a military service member, or a high school or home-schooled student looking to get a head start on college and shorten your path to graduation, CLEP is perfect for you.

REA’s expert authors know the CLEP tests inside out. And thanks to our partners at Proctortrack (proctortrack.com/clep), you can now take your exam at your convenience, from the comfort of home.
 
Prep for success on your CLEP College Composition exam with REA’s personalized three-step plan: (1) focus your study, (2) review with the book, and (3) measure your test-readiness.

Our Book + Online prep gives you all the tools you need to make the most of your study time:

• Two diagnostic exams: Pinpoint what you already know and what you need to study.
• Targeted subject review: Learn what you’ll be tested on.
• Four full-length practice exams: Zero in on the topics that give you trouble now so you’ll be confident and prepared on test day.
• Glossary of key terms: Round out your prep with must-know vocabulary.

REA is America’s recognized leader in CLEP preparation. Our test prep helps you earn valuable college credit, save on tuition, and accelerate your path to a college degree.
 
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738611334
Publisher:	Research & Education Association
Publication date:	07/19/2013
Series:	CLEP Test Preparation
Edition description:	Second Edition, Revised
Pages:	348
Sales rank:	653,569
Product dimensions:	6.60(w) x 9.90(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	16 - 18 Years

About the Author

Dr. Rachelle M. Smith has served as Director of Composition at Emporia State University for the last nineteen years. She did her doctoral work at Texas Christian University, specializing in rhetoric and composition.

Dominick Marullo is currently a high school English teacher with a bachelor’s degree in English and education and a master’s in writing. He has contributed to test prep and review books at both the high school and college level.

Dr. Kenneth Springer is a developmental psychologist. After receiving his Ph.D. from Cornell University in 1990, he served on the faculty of Southern Methodist University’s Psychology Department before moving to SMU’s Simmons School of Education and Human Development in 2002. Dr. Springer currently teaches undergraduate classes in educational psychology, as well as research methods and statistics for graduate students.
 

Read an Excerpt

Passing the CLEP College Composition ExamsCongratulations! You’re joining the millions of people who have discovered the value and educational advantage offered by the College Board’s College-Level Examination Program, or CLEP. This test prep covers everything you need to know about the CLEP College Composition exams, and will help you earn the college credit you deserve while reducing your tuition costs.GETTING STARTED
There are many different ways to prepare for a CLEP exam. What’s best for you depends on how much time you have to study and how comfortable you are with the subject matter. To score your highest, you need a system that can be customized to fit you: your schedule, your learning style, and your current level of knowledge.This book, and the online tools that come with it, allow you to create a personalized study plan through three simple steps: assessment of your knowledge, targeted review of exam content, and reinforcement in the areas where you need the most help.Let’s get started and see how this system works.Test Yourself and Get Feedback - Score reports from your online diagnostic and practice tests give you a fast way to pinpoint what you already know and where you need to spend more time studying.Review with the Book - Study the topics tested on the CLEP exam. Targeted review chapters cover everything you need to knowImprove Your Score - Armed with your score reports, you can personalize your study plan. Review the parts of the book where you’re weakest and study the answer explanations for the test questions you answered incorrectly.THE REA STUDY CENTER
The best way to personalize your study plan and focus on your weaknesses is to get feedback on what you know and what you don’t know. At the online REA Study Center, you can access two types of assessment: a diagnostic exam and full-length practice exams. Each of these tools provides true-to-format questions and delivers a detailed score report that follows the topics set by the College Board.Diagnostic Exam
Before you begin your review with the book, take the online diagnostic exam. Use your score report to help evaluate your overall understanding of the subject, so you can focus your study on the topics where you need the most review.Full-Length Practice Exams
These practice tests give you the most complete picture of your strengths and weaknesses. After you’ve finished reviewing with the book, test what you’ve learned by taking the first of the two online practice exams. Review your score report, then go back and study any topics you missed. Take the second practice test to ensure you have mastered the material and are ready for test day.If you’re studying and don’t have Internet access, you can take the printed tests in the book. These are the same practice tests offered at the REA Study Center, but without the added benefits of timed testing conditions and diagnostic score reports. Because the actual exam is internet-based, we recommend you take at least one practice test online to simulate test-day conditions.AN OVERVIEW OF THE EXAMS
The two CLEP College Composition examinations are designed to measure your writing skills that are taught in most first-year college composition courses. They consist of Conventions of Standard Written English, Revision Skills, Ability to Use Source Materials, and Rhetorical Analysis. In addition there are two essays on the College Composition and one or two on the College Composition Modular. (The number of essay questions in this test is determined by the institution.) Following is a breakdown of each test:CLEP College Composition
Multiple-Choice Questions 50; 50 minutes
Essays 2; 70 minutes
TOTAL TIME 120 minutesCLEP College Composition Modular
Multiple-Choice Questions 90; 90 minutes
Essays 2; 70 minutes
TOTAL TIME 160 minutes

Each of these tests may contain additional multiple-choice questions that will not be counted toward your scores. Within the multiple-choice section of each exam, the topics are broken down by the following percentages:Conventions of Standard Written English: 10%• Syntax (parallelism, coordination, subordination)• Sentence boundaries (comma splice, run-ons, sentence fragments)• Recognition of correct sentences• Concord/agreement (pronoun reference, case shift, and number; subject-verb; verb tense)• Diction• Modifiers• Idiom• Active/passive voice• Lack of subject in modifying word group• Logical comparison• Logical agreement• PunctuationRevision Skills: 40%• Organization• Evaluation of evidence• Awareness of audience, tone and purpose• Level of detail• Coherence between sentences and paragraphs• Sentence variety and structure• Main idea, thesis statements and topic sentences• Rhetorical effects and emphasis• Use of language• Evaluation of author’s authority and appeal• Evaluation of reasoning• Consistency of point of view• Transitions• Sentence-level errors primarily relating to the conventions of standard written EnglishAbility to Use Source Materials: 25%• Use of reference materials• Evaluation of sources• Integration of resource material• Documentation of sources (including, but not limited to, MLA, APA and Chicago manuals of style)Rhetorical Analysis: 25%• Appeals• Tone• Organization/structure• Rhetorical effects• Use of language• Evaluation of evidenceThese percentages are the same regardless of which of the two tests you take. However, some of the topics within those sections may be different. We have indicated them within the review chapters.College Composition Essays
The College Composition exam includes two essays testing your skills of argumentation, analysis and synthesis. The first essay is based on your reading, observation or experience, while the second requires you to synthesize and cite two provided sources.College Composition Modular Essays
Based on each college’s own policy, you will take the direct writing assessment module. Options include:• An essay section developed and provided by CLEP, assessing the same skills as the College Composition essay section, that requiring you to respond to two essay prompts.• An essay section developed, administered and scored by the college.• Another assessment or evaluation determined by the college.
ABOUT THE CLEP PROGRAM
What is the CLEP?
CLEP is the most widely accepted credit-by-examination program in North America. CLEP exams are available in 33 subjects and test the material commonly required in an introductory-level college course. Examinees can earn from three to twelve credits at more than 2,900 colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada. For a complete list of the CLEP subject examinations offered, visit the College Board website: www.collegeboard.org/clep.Who takes CLEP exams?
CLEP exams are typically taken by people who have acquired knowledge outside the classroom and who wish to bypass certain college courses and earn college credit. The CLEP program is designed to reward examinees for learning—no matter where or how that knowledge was acquired.Although most CLEP examinees are adults returning to college, many graduating high school seniors, enrolled college students, military personnel, veterans, and international students take CLEP exams to earn college credit or to demonstrate their ability to perform at the college level. There are no prerequisites, such as age or educational status, for taking CLEP examinations. However, because policies on granting credits vary among colleges, you should contact the particular institution from which you wish to receive CLEP credit.Who administers the exam?
CLEP exams are developed by the College Board, administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS), and involve the assistance of educators from throughout the United States. The test development process is designed and implemented to ensure that the content and difficulty level of the test are appropriate.When and where is the exam given?
CLEP exams are administered year-round at more than 1,200 test centers in the United States and can be arranged for candidates abroad on request. To find the test center nearest you and to register for the exam, contact the CLEP Program:CLEP Services
P.O. Box 6600
Princeton, NJ 08541-6600
Phone: [phone] (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET)
Fax: [phone]
Website: www.collegeboard.org/clepCLEP Exams Migrating to iBT
To improve the testing experience for both institutions and test-takers, the College Board’s CLEP Program is transitioning its 33 exams from the eCBT platform to an Internet-based testing (iBT) platform. By spring 2014, all CLEP test-takers will be able to register for exams and manage their personal account information through the My Account feature on the CLEP website. This new feature simplifies the registration process and automatically downloads all pertinent information about the test session from My Account, making for a more streamlined check-in.OPTIONS FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL AND VETERANS
CLEP exams are available free of charge to eligible military personnel and eligible civilian employees. All the CLEP exams are available at test centers on college campuses and military bases. Contact your Educational Services Officer or Navy College Education Specialist for more information. Visit the DANTES or College Board websites for details about CLEP opportunities for military personnel.Eligible U.S. veterans can claim reimbursement for CLEP exams and administration fees pursuant to provisions of the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004. For details on eligibility and submitting a claim for reimbursement, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website at www.gibill.va.gov.CLEP can be used in conjunction with the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which applies to veterans returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of operation. Because the GI Bill provides tuition for up to 36 months, earning college credits with CLEP exams expedites academic progress and degree completion within the funded timeframe.

Table of Contents

About Our Authors
About Research & Education Association
Acknowledgments

Part I: Passing the CLEP College Composition Exams
Getting Started
The REA Study Center
An Overview of the Exams
About the CLEP Program
Options for Military Personnel and Veterans
SSD Accommodations for Candidates with Disabilities
6-Week Study Plan
Test-Taking Tips
The Day of the Exam
Online Diagnostic Tests
Part II: Preparing for the Multiple-Choice Questions
Chapter 1 Conventions of Standard Written English
Syntax
Parallelism
Agreement
Diction
Modifiers
Reference
Punctuation

Chapter 2 Revision Skills
Organization
Audience, Purpose, Tone
Evaluation of Evidence
Level of Detail
Coherence
Sentence Variety
Main Idea, Topic Sentence, Thesis Statement
Rhetorical Effects
Use of Language
Transitions
How to Approach Revision Skills Questions

Chapter 3 Ability to Use Source Materials
Documentation of Sources
Evaluation of Sources
Integration of Resource Materials
Use of Reference Materials
How to Approach “Ability to Use Source Materials” Questions

Chapter 4 Rhetorical Analysis
Critical Thinking
Understanding of Organization
Understanding of Style
Understanding of Audience, Purpose, and Tone
Understanding of Rhetoric
How to Approach Rhetorical Analysis Questions

Part III: Preparing for the Essays
Chapter 5 The Essays
Overview of the CLEP College Composition Examination, Including Modular Option
Basic Writing Strategies for Producing High-Scoring CLEP Essays
Practice Writing the CLEP Argumentative Essays

Practice Test 1: College Composition also available online at www.rea.com/studycenter
College Composition Practice Test 1
Answer Key

Practice Test 2: College Composition also available online at www.rea.com/studycenter
College Composition Practice Test 2
Answer KeyPractice Test 1: College Composition Modular also available online at www.rea.com/studycenter
College Composition Modular Practice Test 1
Answer Key

Practice Test 2: College Composition Modular also available online at www.rea.com/studycenter
College Composition Modular Practice Test 2
Answer Key

Glossary
Index