Dr. Siobhan Craft Brownson

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

Web Information: The English Department’s home page is located at http://www.winthrop.edu/cas/english/. Goals for courses in the Department of English can be found at the following web address: http://www.winthrop.edu/cas/english/default.aspx?id=20751.

Text:  Copy of the departmental goals found at http://www.winthrop.edu/cas/english/default.aspx?id=20751.

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
-College BASE score
-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

3)      English majors demonstrate familiarity with the concepts and pertinent applications of major critical theories and schools of criticism within the discipline.
-Literary Theory Exercise
-Portfolio Self-Assessment
-English Major Inventory

4)      English majors demonstrate familiarity with the standards of Standard Written English. 
-College Base Score on Writing: Conventions of Standard Written English portion

      -English Major Inventory
      -Portfolio Self-Assessment

A key feature of this configuration is triangulation.  The Assessment Grid, which will record the data that the various assessment instruments will help us gather, includes multiple perspectives:  our assessment of students’ abilities (the exercises, the terms test), 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 (BASE).

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. 

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.

Attendance: Given the special nature of this class, attendance and prompt arrival to the class are very important.  In short, absences are not allowed. 

Requirements:

Students will complete the following:

·        Portfolio (self-assessment and 4 term papers)

·        3 in-class exercises

o       Literary analysis exercise

o       Literary theory exercise

o       Persuasive argument exercise 

·        Terms Test

·        College Basic Academic Subjects Examination (BASE):  English section (reading, literature)

·        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 require specific accommodations to complete this course, contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) at 803-323-3290. Once you have your official notice of accommodations from the Office of Disability Services, please inform me as early as possible in the semester.

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/ ).