In an examination of the implications and effects of the competency testing movement on the discipline of English, the six chapters of this book answer major questions concerning what competency in English is, what is known about the assessment of competence in English, and how minimal competency in English can be defined and assessed. The first chapter presents an account of the origins and development of the competency testing movement, while the second chapter provides a comprehensive review of the best current research and theory on the acquisition, development, and use of language. The third chapter examines the limitations of various approaches to testing reading ability and then proposes a four-part competency test composed of several test formats. Chapter four outlines a theory-based procedure for assessing competence, and chapter five explores the problems of assessing media competency. The last chapter discusses the politics of minimum competency. (HTH)