The University of Rhode Island
Department of Journalism
JOR 220 Entrance Exam

Every student who wishes to enroll in JOR 220-Media Writing must first pass, to the satisfaction of the Journalism Department, a two-part Entrance Exam. The faculty uses the exam to insure that you have the minimum writing skills and general knowledge to succeed in JOR 220.

We offer the exam prior to the registration period for the next semester, and results are available in time for eligible students to enroll in JOR 220. Students who do not pass the exam are advised about remedial actions and may choose to retake it the following semester. If you do not pass the exam the second time, we urge you talk with your advisor about your options.

One section of the exam asks you to identify and explain people, places, historical dates and events in the news. You are expected to have a basic knowledge of state and national government and the world around you, and basic math skills. This part of the exam assumes that you have a basic background in high school civics and history. Beyond this, the best way to prepare for this section is to keep up with the news. As a journalist, and for many journalism classes, you will be expected to read at least one newspaper a day. If you think that is an unreasonable expectation, consider what Jane Pauley, former co-anchor of "The Today Show" and "Dateline NBC," told a group of journalism educators:

We had an intern several years ago . . . who once said to me:
"I've been so busy this summer I haven't had time to look at a newspaper."
And the lecture I gave him is: . . .
"If you're not absorbed by the daily newspaper, if that's not the first thing you want to see [in the morning], if you don't subscribe to a weekly news magazine and really love reading it, why are you in this industry? What do you think you're studying?"

In the essay portion of the exam, you will be asked to answer one question in about 500 words, or about two typed pages. The essay question is broad and is designed to test your writing and thinking skills rather than your ability to remember facts and figures. You cannot pass this section if you have more than 10 errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure and word usage.

A student-designed Study Guide is available to help you prepare for the Entrance Exam. We urge you to take the exam in your first semester as a major; if you pass you are all set and if you do not pass, you have ample time to retake the exam without delaying too long your eligibility for JOR 220. Remember, JOR 220 is the foundation for the major. Taking it no later than your fourth semester allows you the greatest flexibility in choosing your skills courses.