Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the English major, a student will have developed the capacity to analyze texts, the ability to complete a significant independent research or creative project, and to present that work in writing and in discussion. Majors will be able to:
- Demonstrate a broad understanding of the methods of literary scholarship
- Identify the fundamental concepts and tools of fiction and narrative
- Identify the fundamental concepts and tools of poetry
- Summarize and apply a theoretical paradigm
- Complete a significant independent research or creative project that serves to critically explore a topic:
- Choose and define a research topic or a creative topic from the major field
- Develop a methodology or framework appropriate to the research or creative topic
- Engage with scholarly literature relevant to the research or creative topic
- Conduct independent work with the support of an advisor
- Respond appropriately to feedback
- Contribute to the larger field, whether through synthesis, innovation or creation
- Communicate work done
- Write a clear and coherent document that is substantially longer than a traditional term paper or project and formatted in a style appropriate to the approach
- Orally present, discuss and defend work done
The primary assessment tool for learning in the major at 91²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ and the level of student achievement in the major area is the senior thesis; the junior qualifying examination, which assesses a student's readiness for thesis, provides a second assessment tool. See more information on the senior thesis and the junior qualifying examination.