Read texts closely and think critically
- – Comprehend a text’s literal/factual content
- – Distinguish between a passage’s literal/factual content and its figurative/symbolic/interpretive content
- – Analyze a text closely and identify rhetorical strategies therein
- – Connect a passage’s formal structure and thematic content with the text as a whole
- – Extrapolate the larger implications (social, philosophical, ethical, argumentative) of these patterns
In my understanding, this learning outcome (LO) asks students to be able to read texts fully and comprehesively in order to think about them considering all possible meanings and larger implications across various contexts. Over the course of four years I believe I have been given multiple opportunities to and succeeded in accomplishing the LO, on most occasions. Among the assignments that have been completed in relation to the expectation I’ve selected the midterm essay from ENG-237: Women of the West and a discussion post from ENG-237: Writing the Modern World.
First, I will be assesing the assignment that I wrote earlier on in my educational career which is the discussion post. Although it shows an ability to understand what the text is saying, it is missing a deeper analysis in comparison to other texts or implications. It really over covers my immediate reactions to and personal connection I made with the text. Although, in the second paragraph, there is some loose attempts at making broader connections to cultural and historical points regarding perspectives and treatment of Native people. I believe I hadn’t developed the critical skills necessary for the outcome at that point due to it being my first semester (Fall 2021) as a English major. It put me in a situation where I was playing catch up skill wise and still had a more underdeveloped approach to reading and comprehension.
A well-developed and strong example of my progression in meeting the LO is the midterm essay from the Spring 2023 semester. The essay I wrote demonstrates a thought out and deep understanding of not only the texts themselves but their larger purpose and meaning in connection to societal/historical issues. I properly cite sources and incorporate them into the text with transitions that build an argument over opinion, basically quote sandwiches to name a technique. There are obviously structural/formatting qualities that differ from the older assignment due to their different expectations, but there is also an evidently greater amount of coherent ideas and streamlined discussion in the newer piece.
