Praxis SLP Licensure Exam

The writing sample "I went to the zu" indicates potential challenges in which of the following areas of literacy?

1. Phonological processing

2. Orthography

3. Semiotic understanding

4. Grammatical usage

The correct answer is: Orthography

The writing sample "I went to the zu" signifies potential challenges in the area of orthography, which relates to the conventions of writing, including spelling and letter patterns. The use of "zu" instead of "zoo" indicates a possible misunderstanding of correct spelling rules or a difficulty with letter-sound correspondences. This suggests that the individual has a gap in knowledge regarding the correct representation of sounds through letters, which is critical in developing literacy skills. In this case, if phonological processing were challenged, one might expect incomplete or incorrect segments of sounds but not necessarily spelling errors specific to written language. Semiotic understanding pertains to the interpretation of symbols and meaning, which does not directly apply to the spelling error presented here. Grammatical usage involves sentence structure and the arrangement of words, which does not seem to be the primary concern presented in the writing sample since the rest of the sentence is grammatically correct. Therefore, the primary issue highlighted by "I went to the zu" revolves around orthographical skills, making this the most appropriate area to address.