English Department

1.

Knowledge of literary studies

• A basic understanding of principal types of literature
• An understanding of important literary concepts and of the basic terminology used to discuss poetry, prose, and drama
• Knowledge of British and American literary periods

2.

Communication Skills

• Ability to write literary analyses using American conventions of style and documentation
• Ability to analyze and evaluate literature with well articulated positions, illustrations, and support

3.

Critical Thinking/Literary Skills

• Ability to analyze literature with attention to style and form as well as content
• The ability to identify similarities and differences in the way different works of literature express ideas and values
• Understanding of the methods of conducting literary research
• Ability to use various critical strategies in responding to literature

Assessment Measure:

Goals Addressed:

(list by number)

How is the information used?

1.Preliminary test of knowledge, skills, and understandings administered in English 275

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The Literature Director will organize annual spring assessment of papers from every fifth student from all sections of ENGL-275 by the Thursday of Finals Week.  The assessment panel will include two teachers of ENGL-275 and at least one tenured faculty member.  Two panelists read every paper.  Panelists do not read their own students’ work.  When there is a two-point difference in the overall assessment category, a paper will go on to a third reader.  This information will be used to analyze where we are currently successful in meeting our expected outcomes, and it will motivate change in areas where we are less successful.

2.  Senior Seminar portfolio/final project analysis (to be developed)

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The Director of Literature will lead a subcommittee of literature faculty which will evaluate ENGL-498 final projects/portfolios each fall, recording achievements in each learning goal.  This information will be used to gauge students’ mastery of literary studies.  The information will also help us revise our senior seminar pedagogy.

3. Formulate literature-related questions to be added to the regular survey of graduates administered by Institutional Assessment.

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The Director of Literature, with the Associate Chair, will collaborate with Institutional Assessment to maximize creation of relevant results from that office’s ongoing surveys of BSU graduates.  This information will be included with data from other measures in the annual assessment meeting of department’s key literature offerings, and will lead to curriculum improvement.