Student Learning outcomes for English:
Read:
Majors will . . .
√ develop sophisticated and active reading strategies--especially skills in close reading, critical reading, and analysis--to understand, appreciate, and work with a wide variety of everyday and complex texts (both in and after college)
√ develop a mature and integrative knowledge of literature and literary traditions across historical and geographical boundaries
√ interpret texts from a variety of literary genres in relation to their social, cultural, and historical contexts
√ develop a deep and enduring appreciation for the pleasure and utility of the practice of reading
Write:
Majors will . . .
√ engage in simple and complex rhetorical situations using the university's writing standards of Audience & Purpose, Arrangement, Development, Synthesis, and Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling
√ critically analyze a variety of texts using disciplinary language and critical perspectives appropriate for literary and rhetorical analysis
√ participate in the critical and cultural discourse of English (disciplinary conversations and arguments) in ways that create and advance disciplinary and personal knowledge
√ conduct purposeful, independent inquiry through research, synthesizing the voice(s) and ideas of others to produce engaging, insightful, and persuasive texts
√ develop and hone a more sophisticated critical and/or creative voice
√ write clear, powerful, and engaging original literature (creative writing), and/or rhetorically powerful and persuasive work about literature (literary criticism), and/or rhetorically powerful and persuasive discourse about socio-cultural issues (civic discourse)
Speak
Majors will . . .
√ gain confidence in formulating and clearly articulating their thoughts to a variety of audiences
√ develop skills in listening actively, critically, and sympathetically
√ actively participate in discussions that build knowledge collaboratively
√ plan, prepare, and deliver engaging oral presentations
Think
Majors will . . .
√ consciously explore and articulate their interests in studying English, (as well as personal values and life ambitions)
√ develop habits of mind that allow them to explain issues/problems, discover and employ evidence, analyze contexts, identify and evaluate personal and others' perspectives, frame a hypothesis, and reach reasonable conclusions
√ use disciplinary vocabulary, concepts, and theories to augment thinking
√ engage in inquiry, critical thinking, problem solving, and risk taking to reach creative and practical resolutions
√ cultivate a mature awareness of and appreciation for creativity, imagination, and reason
Work
Majors will . . .
√ anticipate and explore their interests in preparation for life after college
√ practice the skills and habits of thinking needed to succeed and thrive in an anticipated occupation
So that English department faculty can better evaluate each student's progress and accomplishments in these areas, all English majors submit a portfolio of three essays during the spring semester of their sophomore year and another portfolio of three essays during the spring semester of their senior year. The department distributes submission instructions at the beginning of each spring semester.
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