Academic Learning Compacts: English Majors
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Assessment Statements
Individual Student Assessment
Obtain a minimum grade of C or better in ten 3/4000-level English department courses, each of which carries a minimum of 3 credits, and each of which is graded by department rubric.
Assessment Method
All English majors will demonstrate satisfactory ( a grade of C )or better performance on assigned work in ten 3/4000-level English Department courses, each of which carries a minimum of 3 credits, and each of which is graded by department rubric.
Grading Rubrics
Student Learning Outcomes (SLO 1-5)
Content Knowledge/Skills
SLO 1: Understand cultural objects by exposure to interpretations and/or the practice of interpretations in different contexts.
A
Evaluated course work exhibits a superior understanding of the relations of cultural objects and their interpretations. Superior understanding is demonstrated by a clear and sophisticated identification of the components of the interpretations (generic, historical, literary, cinematic, for example), a nuanced and in-depth articulation of the relations of those various components, and an insightful recognition of the appropriate relevance of particular interpretations.
B/B+
Evaluated course work exhibits an advanced understanding of the relations of cultural objects and their interpretations. Advanced understanding is demonstrated by an accurate identification of most of the components of the interpretations (generic, historical, literary, cinematic, for example), a more than competent articulation of the relations of many of those various components, and a recognition of the appropriate relevance of the interpretations.
C/C+
Evaluated course work exhibits a basic understanding of the relations of cultural objects and their interpretations. Basic understanding is demonstrated by the accurate identification of some of the components of an interpretation (generic, historical, literary, cinematic, for example), a competent articulation of the relations of some of those components, and some evidence of a recognition of the appropriate relevance of an interpretation.
SLO 2: Effectively produce cultural objects and/or interpretations of cultural objects: texts, films, media, hypertexts, etc.
A
Evaluated work (paper, interpretation, poem, short story, film, media, hypertext, etc.) displays a superior level of accomplishment. Superior accomplishment is demonstrated by a clear and sophisticated use of the elements of the particular medium and genre; the nuanced and judicious articulation of evidence, research, and argument where appropriate; and a keen knowledge and excellent use of stylistics with few errors.
B/B+
Evaluated work (paper, interpretation, poem, short story, film, media, hypertext, etc.) displays an advanced level of accomplishment. Advanced accomplishment is demonstrated by a more than competent use of the elements of the particular medium and genre; the accurate articulation of evidence, research, and argument where appropriate; and a good knowledge and use of stylistics with some errors.
C/C+
Evaluated work (paper, interpretation, poem, short story, film, media, hypertext, etc.) displays a basic level of accomplishment. Basic accomplishment is demonstrated by a competent use of the elements of the particular medium and genre; the adequate articulation of evidence, research, and argument where appropriate; and a knowledge and use of stylistics without excessive errors.
SLO 3: Understand and work with contexts.
A
Evaluated course work exhibits a superior grasp of how contexts relate to the production of cultural objects and their interpretations. A superior grasp is demonstrated by the clear and sophisticated identification of the circumstances and particulars of the contexts, a nuanced and in-depth articulation of the relations of those various circumstances and particulars, and an insightful recognition of the appropriate relevance of a particular context or contexts.
B/B+
Evaluated course work exhibits an advanced grasp of how contexts interact in the production of cultural objects and interpretations. An advanced grasp is demonstrated by the accurate identification of the circumstances and particulars of the contexts, a more than competent articulation of the relations of those various circumstances and particulars, and a recognition of the appropriate relevance of a particular context or contexts.
C/C+
Evaluated course work exhibits a basic grasp of how contexts interact in the production of cultural objects and interpretations. A basic grasp is demonstrated by accurate identification of some of the circumstances and particulars of the contexts, a competent articulation of the relations of some of those various circumstances and particulars, and some evidence of a recognition of the appropriate relevance of a particular context or contexts.
Critical Thinking Skills
SLO 4: Know how to interpret cultural objects.
A
Evaluated course work displays a superior understanding of the elements of interpretation. Superior understanding is demonstrated by the clear and sophisticated identification and use of the elements of argumentation; a nuanced and judicious articulation and weighing of evidence, and an insightful recognition of the limits and appropriate relevance of a particular context or contexts.
B/B+
Evaluated course work displays an advanced understanding of the elements of interpretation. Advanced understanding is demonstrated by the accurate identification and use of most of the elements of argumentation, a more than competent articulation and weighing of evidence, and a recognition of the limits and appropriate relevance of a particular context or contexts.
C/C+
Evaluated course work displays a basic understanding of the elements of interpretation. Basic understanding is demonstrated by the accurate identification and use of some of the elements of argumentation; a competent articulation and weighing of evidence; and some evidence of a recognition of the limits and appropriate relevance of a particular context or contexts.
Communication Skills
SLO 5: Articulate cultural objects in texts (e.g., essays, term papers, reaction papers, short stories, poems, screenplays, memos, reports, etc.), films or videos, hypertexts, media, etc.
A
Evaluated course work exhibits superior communication skills. Superior communication skills are demonstrated by the clear and sophisticated use of the elements of the particular medium and genre; the nuanced and judicious articulation and weighing of evidence, research, and argument where appropriate; and a keen knowledge and excellent use of structure and stylistics with few errors.
B/B+
Evaluated course work exhibits advanced communication skills. Advanced communication skills are demonstrated by the more than competent use of the elements of the particular medium and genre; the accurate articulation and weighing of evidence, research, and argument where appropriate; and a good knowledge and use of structure and stylistics with some errors.
C/C+
Evaluated course work exhibits basic communication skills. Basic communication skills are demonstrated by competent use of the elements of the particular medium and genre; the adequate articulation and weighing of evidence, research, and argument where appropriate; and the knowledge and use of structure and stylistics without excessive errors.