Dr. Siobhan Craft Brownson
ENGL 491-001
Catalog Description: Intended to assess the
student’s mastery of English coursework. Prerequisite(s): Must be taken in the
first semester of the senior year (after the student has earned 90 hours).
Notes: A grade of S or U is recorded. Offered in fall and spring
Text: Goals for Undergraduate English Majors can be found at the following web address:
http://www.winthrop.edu/cas/english/default.aspx?id=20752
Course Goals: This zero-credit seminar serves as the assessment course
for all three tracks in the English major. The course enables the department to
ascertain whether its seniors can demonstrate the content knowledge, analytic
and interpretive skills, and communication skills required by the major. Each
student’s work will be evaluated in light of the departmental goals for the
major, and students will be informed of the results of their multiple choice
tests. The department’s purpose is to discover those areas in which our
students do well and also to identify weaknesses so that we may improve our
program and our instruction. This year, we are specifically gathering
information to help us study the following objectives:
1) English
majors are able to read and interpret a wide range of literary texts of
average difficulty with comprehension of their content and relevant
literary characteristics. This will be assessed using the
following:
-Literary analysis exercise
-Terms test
-Portfolio Self-Assessment
-ETS Literature in English Test
-English Major inventory
2) English
majors are able to construct persuasive arguments based on careful
analysis and deliberation and use a voice and format suitable for the
intended audience. This will be assessed using the following:
-Persuasive Exercise
-Portfolio Self-Assessment
-English Major inventory
-Portfolio
5) English majors practice ethical reasoning and demonstrate an understanding of the moral dimensions of English Studies through well-documented research.
-Ethical Dimensions in English Studies Exercise
-Portfolio Self-Assessment
-English Major Inventory
6) English majors demonstrations comprehension of the historical, social, and global contexts of their disciplines and their lives.
-English Major Inventory
-Portfolio Self-Assessment
-Portfolio
A key feature of this configuration is triangulation. The Assessment Report, which will record the data that the various assessment instruments will help us gather, includes multiple perspectives: our assessment of students’ abilities (the exercises), students’ assessment of themselves (the portfolio), their assessment of themselves and of us (the English Major Inventory), and our assessment of them in relation to national averages (ETS).
A Note About Student Learning Outcomes: Because of the assessment nature
of this course, instruction does not occur; therefore, separate student learning
outcomes have not been developed.
Attendance: Given the special nature of this class, attendance and prompt arrival to the class are very important. In short, absences are not allowed.
Grading: Students receive an S/U basis for this class; to earn an S,
students must complete ALL of the following course requirements and
demonstrate that they have made a serious effort to do their best work. The
grade will not be calculated on the basis of a certain percentage but
rather on the effort. If students do not complete one of the assignments
thoughtfully, they may be required to do the assignment over. A student who
does not complete all the assignments will earn a U and will not be
allowed to graduate until the requirements are fulfilled.
Requirements:
Students will complete the following:
Portfolio (self-assessment and 7 term papers)
3 in-class exerciseso
Literary analysis exerciseo
Literary theory exercise ETS Major Field Test in Literature in English
English Major Inventory
Participate in a focus group discussion about the department, students studies, the curriculum, etc.
Final Exam Information: Because of the assessment nature of this
course, a final exam is not given. Also, evaluations of this course are not
given because there is no instruction.
Syllabus Change: If changes need to be made to this syllabus based on current course circumstances, students will receive a written notification of the change. The information will also be posted online. If any changes need to be made to calendar, changes will be announced in class and posted online.
Students with Disabilities: Winthrop University is dedicated to providing access to education. If you have a disability and need classroom accommodations, please contact Gena Smith, Coordinator, Services for Students with Disabilities, at 323-3290, as soon as possible. Once you have your Professor Notification Form, please tell me so that I am aware of your accommodations well before the first assignment, test, or paper.
Safe Zones Statement: The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being – regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor’s expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.
Student Conduct Code:
As noted in the Student Conduct Code: "Responsibility for good conduct rests with students as adult individuals." The policy on student academic misconduct is outlined in the "Student Conduct Code Academic Misconduct Policy" in the online Student Handbook (http://www2.winthrop.edu/studentaffairs/handbook/StudentHandbook.pdf).