57 Assessment of Portfolios, Theses, and Dissertations
The portfolio director and the thesis and dissertation committees perform assessments of portfolios, theses, and dissertations as the candidates’ go through the writing process and when a final draft has been produced. When the portfolio, thesis, or dissertation is complete and has been successfully defended (if required), the portfolio director or the thesis/dissertation committee completes an assessment report of Student Learning Outcomes to be used by the program for reporting Institutional Effectiveness. The Assessment forms filled out by each director or committee are provided in Appendix 6.
M.A. Directed Portfolio Student Learning Outcomes:
- Candidates demonstrate an advanced understanding of the major periods, trends, authors and texts that comprise the Western and non-Western literary, linguistic and/or rhetorical traditions.
- Candidates produce a portfolio of three graduate seminar papers and/or projects reflecting the student’s strongest work as well as his/her breadth of knowledge. In consultation with the portfolio director, the candidates determine revision goals and target audiences (such as journals and/or academic conferences) for each paper and/or project that will influence these goals.
- Candidates recognize and adhere to the expectations for professional and ethical practices—with a particular emphasis on proper source citation and respect for intellectual property—that are followed by the discipline of English studies (broadly defined).
- Candidates demonstrate an advanced understanding of the major periods, trends, authors and texts that comprise the Western and non-Western literary, linguistic and/or rhetorical traditions.
- Candidates produce an extended, persuasive, and original analysis of a text or texts that rests upon significant research and is of sufficient quality to be considered for publication by a peer-reviewed journal.
- Candidates recognize and adhere to the expectations for professional and ethical practices—with a particular emphasis on proper source citation and respect for intellectual property—that are followed by the discipline of English studies (broadly defined).
- Candidates demonstrate an expert-level understanding of the major periods, trends, authors and texts that comprise the Western and non-Western literary, linguistic and/or rhetorical traditions.
- Candidates produce a dissertation-length, original analysis of a text or texts that rests upon significant research and is of sufficient quality to be considered for publication by a vetted academic press.
- Candidates recognize and adhere to the expectations for professional and ethical practices—with a particular emphasis on proper source citation and respect for intellectual property—that are followed by the discipline of English studies (broadly defined).
