The Department of Basic Composition has described its outcome assessment in terms of departmental history and future plans in a document entitled "Department of Basic Composition at Utah Valley State College: Outcome Assessment Report for ENGH 0890 Fundamental English Skills and ENGH 0990 College Preparatory Writing." This report is applicable to ENGH 0890 Basic Writing I and ENGH 0990 Basic Writing II.
Each semester, faculty submit a sample A, B, and C portfolio. Each faculty member chooses one representative (or anchor) portfolio for that faculty member’s A grades, B grades, and C grades. Each portfolio contains a “shared assignment,” a written paper that two teachers have graded according to a rubric. Presently, faculty are trying to improve the validity and reliability of scoring the shared assignment with the rubric. Presently, faculty are trying to improve the validity and reliability of scoring the shared assignment with the rubric.
May 6, 2005: Spring 2005: Grading the ENGH 0990 Shared Assignment
February 1, 2005: Fall 2004: Grading the ENGH 0990 Shared Assignment
September 14, 2004: ENGH 0990 Shared Assignment: Holistically Scoring
A research report involves 711 students, has implications for outcome assessment, and compares the pre-portfolio curriculum to the portfolio curriculum for ENGH 0890 and ENGH 0990. Findings include that...
- The portfolio curriculum is more difficult but more beneficial for basic writers.
- Poor retention and matriculation compromise any demonstration of the long-term benefits of curricula.
- Full-time and part-time faculty members seem to be equally effective teachers in terms of the grades that their students earn while completing the composition course sequence: ENGH 0890, ENGH 0990, ENGL 1010, and ENGL 2010/2020.
Recommendations for more research and policy changes are also given.
Please visit Department Research for other information relevant to Outcome Assessment.
