Students majoring in English will acquire an appreciation of various critical approaches and methodologies in studying literature and literary theory.
Objective
Reading Literature Critically
Each upper-division literature class incorporates discussion of critical approaches and methodologies, and students will be able to use various of the approaches and methodologies presented in analyzing literary texts.
Indicator
Writing Assessment
We will collect writing samples of English majors from various upper-division courses each semester.
Criterion
Assessment of Writing Skills
Writing samples will be assessed by a holistic scoring done by Department of English faculty. At least 75 percent of the essays scored will be rated as acceptable or excellent.
Finding
Writing Skills Assessment
The holistic scoring session was completed, with 89 percent of the essays read certified as being acceptable or excellent.
Action
Reading Critically
Students improved their performance on the essay; thus, we will continue to discuss ways to improve teaching critical reading to students.
Goal
Writing In The Profession
Students majoring in English will be able to employ a variety of writing styles so that they may succeed in professional situations and/or as teachers.
Objective
Writing About Literature
Students will demonstrate the ability to interpret texts by communicating their understanding of those texts in analytical essays.
Indicator
Writing Assessment
We will collect writing samples of English majors from various upper-division courses each semester.
Criterion
Assessment of Writing Skills
Writing samples will be assessed by a holistic scoring done by Department of English faculty. At least 75 percent of the essays scored will be rated as acceptable or excellent.
Finding
Writing Skills Assessment
The holistic scoring session was completed, with 89 percent of the essays read certified as being acceptable or excellent.
Action
Writing Skills Assessment
We met our initial goal and saw an increase in the pass rate from 78.6 percent in AY 06-07 to 89 percent in AY 07-08. In the effort to increase the pass rate for next year, we will continue discussion of writing in literature classes.
Goal
Secondary English Education Certification
English majors and minors seeking certification as Secondary English teachers will receive a grounding in literature, in writing, and in the pedagogy of Secondary English.
Objective
Secondary English Certification Validation
Students seeking teacher certification will be able to pass the English content area portion of the TExES exam (a certification test administered by the Texas Education Agency).
Indicator
English Content Area TExES Preparation
Secondary English Education students will be prepared to pass the TExES English content area exam in their final semester or shortly after graduating.
Criterion
TExES Scores
At least 75 percent of students taking the TExES English content area exam will pass. (Note: scoring of the TExES results in a ??????pass?????? or ??????not passed?????? designation.)
Finding
TExES Results
82.6 percent of students seeking certification in Secondary English Education passed the TExES English content area exam during AY 07-08.
Action
TExES Assessment
We met our goal of a 75 percent pass rate. However, the pass rate for AY 07-08 fell to 82.6 percent (from 96 percent in AY 06-07). We will examine our preparation of students for this exam and seek to strengthen those efforts.
Goal
Prepared For Graduate Studies
Students will be prepared to enter graduate studies.
Objective
Graduate Study
Students will be prepared to enter graduate studies after completing the BA in English.
Indicator
Preparation For Graduate Study In English
English majors who wish to pursue graduate study in English will be prepared to do so.
Criterion
Admission to Graduate Study
At least one English student earning the B.A. at SHSU will be admitted to graduate study annually.
Finding
Admission to Graduate Study
Sixteen of our English majors were admitted to graduate study in the SHSU English M.A. program; one of our English majors was admitted to doctoral study at Purdue University.
Action
Graduate Study in English
Because we exceeded our goal and saw students admitted not only to our M.A. program but also to a Ph.D. program at Purdue University, we will continue our efforts at preparing our undergraduate majors for graduate study.