COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT WRITING ASSESSMENT
[CMWA]

College of Management Requirement

The assessment of this written essay will determine whether you should register for Business Communications (BC) 230 or 290. Both courses integrate managerial communication and critical analysis. BC230 is a more intensive and basic course.  The assessment is required before you can register for either of the BC courses.

BC 290 PRE-REQUISITES

In order to take BC 290, you must have taken:

• 30 credits
• ENGL 101 and 102
• the CMWA

CM WRITING ASSESSMENT (CMWA)

The CMWA takes place in a computer lab; it is a 2-hour exam.  You may only take the CMWA once.  All personal belongings (coats, purses, school bags, cell phones, notes, dictionaries, etc.) must be left with the exam proctor during the exam.

It is the students’ responsibility to reserve a time, via email (not in person or over the phone), to take the CMWA.  To do this, send an email to Leona.thomas@umb.edu  with the subject line “CMWA” including the following information, in the order in which it’s listed here:

1. Name (first, last)
2. UMS ID number
3. UMB College (CM, CLA, CSM, CNHS, CPCS, non-degree) 
   ( 3a)  CM students only: when was/is your first semester?
4. Assessment date / time first choice
5. Assessment date / time second choice
6. Assessment date / time third choice
7. Email address (for notification of when and where you will take the CMWA, a sample exam, and assessment results)

We can only reserve a space for you to take the exam if we have all this information, in this order.  Once we have this information we’ll let you know when / where you will take the CMWA.  Space is limited, and requests will be handled on a first come, first served basis.  Of course we will try to accommodate your first choice.

You will be notified of your results within two weeks of taking the CMWA.

CMWA Test Dates

FALL DATES TO BE DETERMINED

For questions regarding reservations, contact:
Leona Thomas, CM Faculty Support Center: Leona.thomas@umb.edu

CMWA Sample Test

Taking the ethical dilemma outlined below as your starting point, write an essay in which you

1. analyze the strengths and weaknesses of both sides of the issue – giving equal weight to both sides – and
2. explain which position you would support, and why

Your essay must be

1. between 2/3 and one full page
2. single-spaced
3. printed in Times New Roman 12 font OR Arial 11 point

We will not read / assess essays that

1. are over or under the length limit
2. use different font
3. are not single-spaced

Write you full name as well as your student ID at the TOP LEFT of this paper.

You have two hours to write this essay.  Take your time, and make notes and outlines to help you organize your thoughts.

Since my firm reopened in New Orleans, I’ve been parking illegally in a loading zone. Enforcement is sporadic, so I average only about one $20 ticket a week, cheaper than putting the car in a lot. Friends say it’s unethical to exploit a broken municipal system. I say I harm nobody: there are no businesses open on this block, so nobody to use the loading zone. What do you say?

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