Curriculum Action Notice

From:

Academic Affairs Committee

Date:

April 8, 2003

This is a bulletin from the Academic Affairs Committee concerning proposed curriculum actions. Within the next 10 days, please forward any comments or concerns to the AAC Chair, Helen Biblehimer, Elliott Hall 203, ext. 4521, hbiblehi@mnsfld.edu.

The department of Languages and Literature has requested the following
curricular changes:

#1 Action: Course Change: ENG 3333 Advanced Composition

Purpose and nature of change:
In order to clarify the intended audience for ENG 3333, and to reflect more accurately the content of the course (including its integration with the English degree program's proposed portfolio requirement), the Department of Languages & Literature wishes to revise the title, the catalog description, and the prerequisites for ENG 3333.

New Course Title:Advanced Writing for English Majors

Course description for catalog (limit to ONLY four sentences):
Designed to refine the writing skills of English majors, with an emphasis on critical analysis and the mechanics of writing. Students will read and write about a literary, rhetorical, or linguistic concept chosen by the instructor (irony in literature, for example) and revise at least one essay from their English portfolio. Offered fall semesters. Prerequisites: ENG 1130 and two upper division ENG classes.

Prerequisite(s): (Courses which MUST be taken prior to taking this course)
ENG 1130 and two upper division ENG classes.

#2 Action: Program Change: English BA and BSE degree program

Rationale for Change: The Department of Languages & Literature proposes the addition of a portfolio requirement to the English BA and BSE degree programs.The portfolio will consist of five essays: one from ENG 1130: Introduction to Literary Studies; two from two different upper division ENG courses; a
substantial revision of one of these three essays (to be completed as required in ENG 3333); and the research paper from ENG 4401: Senior Seminar in Literary Studies. Students may also choose to include essays from their minor programs,such as Creative Writing or Women's Studies, in addition to the five required essays. The portfolio will serve as both a written, holistic track record of each individual student's progress through the ENG curriculum, and a valuable tool for program assessment.

Program Description for Catalog:
To be added to existing catalog language:
English BA and BSE students will compile a portfolio of their written work to serve as evidence of their progress through the English curriculum. The portfolio will consist of five essays: one from ENG 1130: Introduction to Literary Studies; two from two different upper division ENG courses; a substantial revision of one of these three essays (to be completed as required in ENG 3333); and the research paper from ENG 4401: Senior Seminar in Literary Studies. Students may also choose to include essays from their minor programs, such as Creative Writing or Women's Studies, in addition to the five required essays.

Program Objectives:
No change. The portfolio requirement will allow the department to view each student's progress through the curriculum holistically; it will also provide us with a valuable tool from program assessment.

Impact on Other Programs:
No impact. The portfolio essays do not represent additional written work; the essays submitted to the portfolio are drawn from the set of essays already required by the English curriculum.