SACS Reaffirmation
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Assessment : 2006 - 2007 : Educational Programs :
English BA
4 Goals 4 Objectives 3 Indicators 3 Criteria 3 Findings 4 Actions
GOAL: Literature And Literary Theory
| Objective | Reading Literature Critically | |
| Our upper-division literature classes incorporate discussion of critical approaches and methodologies, and students will be able to use various of the approaches and methodologies presented in analyzing literary texts. Associated Goals: Literature And Literary Theory |
| Indicator | Writing Assessment We will collect writing samples of English majors from various upper-division courses each semester. |
| Criteria | 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 The holistic scoring session was completed, with 78.6 percent of the essays read certified as being acceptable or excellent. |
Actions for Objective:
| Action | Reading and application Skills Assessment While we met our initial goal, we think it can be higher. To this end, we will discuss how to improve the interpretation skills of students. |
GOAL: Secondary English Education Certification
| 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). Associated Goals: Secondary English Education Certification |
| 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. |
| Criteria | 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 96 percent of students seeking certification in Secondary English Education passed the TExES English content area exam during AY 06-07. (n = 25) |
Actions for Objective:
| Action | TExES Assessment We exceeded our expectation of a pass rate of 75 percent, with 96 percent of students passing. Thus, we will maintain our efforts at preparing our students for the TExES exam through the teacher preparation courses'' structures and materials and through the TExES preparation workshops that we offer. |
GOAL: Students Graduating From Our English Program Will Be Prepared To Continue With Graduate Studies
| Objective | Graduate School Preparation | |
| Students will be able to enter graduate school if they desire upon graduating from our English program. Associated Goals: Students Graduating From Our English Program Will Be Prepared To Continue With Graduate Studies |
| Indicator | Preparation For Graduate Study In English English majors who wish to pursue graduate study in English will be prepared to do so. |
| Criteria | 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 Five of our English majors were admitted to the SHSU M.A. program in English. |
Actions for Objective:
| Action | Graduate Study in English Because our students seem prepared for admission to graduate study, we do not deem any particular action necessary at this time. We will discuss methods of collecting better data on students who do not apply to our program but do apply to graduate school. |
GOAL: Writing In The Profession
| Objective | Writing About Literature | |
| Students will demonstrate the ability to interpret texts by communicating their understanding of those texts in analytical essays. Associated Goals: Writing In The Profession |
| Indicator | Writing Assessment We will collect writing samples of English majors from various upper-division courses each semester. |
| Criteria | 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 The holistic scoring session was completed, with 78.6 percent of the essays read certified as being acceptable or excellent. |
Actions for Objective:
| Action | Writing skills While we met our initial goal, we think it can be higher. To this end, we will discuss how writing may be taught in the context of a literature class to both support instruction and strengthen student writing skills. |