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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:

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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 ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï 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.