The Portfolio for the B.A. in Literature

Requirements
Checklist (print this, fill it out, and include it with your essays)
Elements of a Satisfactory Portfolio
Rubric to be Used in Assessing the Portfolio
More information about the Portfolio


Part I

Requirements

 During their second to last semester of enrollment at WCU, candidates for a B.A. degree in Literature must submit a portfolio of four essays/writing projects that they consider to be the best examples of work completed in undergraduate English courses. Selected items must include the following:
  1. one from work assigned in either LIT 295 or LIT 296;
  2. one from an American Literature course;
  3. one from an English Literature course;
  4. one from a LIT 400 seminar.
Students should select papers/writing projects that successfully demonstrate the following criteria:
  1. knowledge of American Literature;
  2. knowledge of English Literature;
  3. the ability to situate a text in relation to literary tradition, historical period, and cultural identities (class, race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality etc.);
  4. the ability to write analytically, critically, and knowledgeably about literature.
Items selected must be submitted as clean copies without any instructor's comments or grades. Students may revise the writing chosen as deemed necessary prior to submission of the final portfolio.

Finally, each portfolio will include a Checklist that identifies each item presented (print the page and fill it out) as well as an Introduction (essay or letter). The Introduction (3-4 pages typed, double-spaced) will address each item in the portfolio and must explain the context (assignment's expectations) for each piece as well as the student's understanding of how the items included (individually and collectively) demonstrate the four criteria specified above. Students are encouraged to reflect more generally on the quality of their educational experience within the B.A. in Literature Program.
 

Part II

Rubric for Evaluating the Portfolio

Elements of a Satisfactory Portfolio

Knowledge of English and American Literature
Ability to Situate Texts within Literary and Cultural Contexts
Ability to Write Analytically, Critically, and Knowledgeably about Literature
  • shows familiarity with a period, author, trend, movement, or paradigm from English literature
  • shows familiarity with a period, author, trend, movement, or paradigm from American literature
  • recognizes generic traditions and innovations
  • recognizes authorial influences across time
  • demonstrates understanding of the ways in which literary texts can reflect or shape the representation of historical events
  • analyzes the ways in which literary texts both reflect and help to construct such social categories as race, class, gender, and sexuality
  • develops a thesis
  • organizes writing
  • supports analysis with textual evidence
  • follows conventions of logical argumentation
  • demonstrates control of language use and mechanics
  • demonstrates understanding of the conventions of literary criticism (including MLA style)

 
 

Rubric for Assessing B.A. Lit. Portfolio

Score:
4 (a rare score)
3
2
1
Knowledge of English and American Literature demonstrates sophisticated knowledge of at least one period, author, or movement, etc. from English and American literature demonstrates a competent understanding of at least one period, author, or movement, etc., from English and American literature demonstrates sufficient knowledge of at least one period, author, or movement, etc., from English or American literature and vague knowledge of the other literature demonstrates only vague or insufficient knowledge of even one period, author, or movement, etc., from English or American literature 
Ability to Situate Texts within Literary and Cultural Contexts  provides substantial and specific analysis of how literary texts are related to both literary and cultural contexts provides some specific analysis of how literary texts are related to both literary and cultural contexts provides vague analysis of how literary texts are related to both literary and cultural contexts or specific analysis of relations to either literary or cultural contexts provides little or no analysis of how literary texts are related to either literary and cultural contexts
Ability to Write Analytically, Critically, and Knowledgeably about Literature demonstrates superior achievement in all six of the qualities of critical writing listed above demonstrates clear competence in most of the elements of critical writing listed above demonstrates adequate skill with the elements of critical writing listed above, though one or two of these areas may be weak demonstrates pervasive weaknesses in the majority of the qualities of critical writing listed above

Total Score Possible = 12

Passing Score = 8 (with at least a 2 in each area)

More questions? See "About the Portfolio"


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