Outcomes assessment (OA) is a process used to evaluate if students are prepared for the next level of English class, requiring passing an assessment essay to receive a course grade. Participation is mandatory for all English 015, 090, and 101 students who must submit a complete portfolio to be eligible, with assessments conducted in the last three weeks of the semester. If a student fails the OA essay, a portfolio review will be conducted, assessing their work throughout the semester to decide if they ultimately pass outcomes assessment.

1. Overview of Outcomes Assessment (OA) for Students

2. What is Outcomes Assessment?It is a method for the college to ensure that students are ready for the next level of English class. Each student’s writing is used to determine if the student is ready to move on to the next class.

3. How does Outcomes Assessment affect my grade?In order to receive a letter grade for the course, you must pass Outcomes Assessment. If you pass Outcomes Assessment, you receive the grade you earned in the course.If you fail Outcomes Assessment, you receive an “NC,” or No Credit, which does not affect your GPA. However, receiving an “NC,” means you will need to retake the course and could have financial aid implications.When does outcomes assessment happen?Outcomes Assessment happens during the last three weeks of the semester.Important DatesWeek 13/14 Portfolio due prior to OA essay being assigned. Week 14 OA essays assigned during first meeting of weekWeek 15 OA essays submitted and scoredWeek 15 Portfolios reviewed at end of weekWeek 16 Finals week

4. Do all English students participate in Outcomes Assessment?All students in English 015, 090, and 101 at both CWI and CSI have to pass the Outcomes Assessment process in order to move on to the next English class.

5. Is everyone eligible to participate in Outcomes Assessment?Only students who turn in a complete portfolio are eligible to go through the Outcomes Assessment process. There will be a description of what goes in a portfolio later in this presentation.

6. How does Outcomes Assessment work?At the end of the semester you will write an Outcomes Assessment essay. If the essay passes, you receive the grade you earned for the course.

7. What kind of essay will I be required to write?The topic of the essay changes each semester, but students are usually asked to write a persuasive or thesis driven informative essay. No research can be used. Examples are to come from the students’ personal knowledge experiences. The length of the essay depends on what class you are taking.How do they decide if I pass?Faculty readers evaluate your OA essay based on the outcomes posted on your syllabus. If the writing meets the outcomes, it receives a “Pass.” If it does not meet the outcomes, it receives a “No Pass.”Your instructor will make a recommendation of P or NP based on the writing you have done during the semester.

8. Who reads the OA essays?Instructors who teach the same class you are in at both CWI and CSI evaluate the OA essay during outcomes assessment. Instructors do blind reading, so they do not know whose writing they are reading. This helps the process be as fair as possible.

9. What are common reasons people fail the outcomes essay?

10. What if I fail the Outcomes Assessment Essay?If the OA essay does not pass, the portfolio of essays you wrote during the semester will be evaluated to determine if you should pass the Outcomes Assessment Process.

11. What is portfolio review?If a student does not pass the outcomes assessment essay, that student’s work from the class is evaluated by a faculty committee. If the portfolio meets the outcomes, that student will then pass outcomes assessment.

12. What goes in the portfolio?Passing portfolios have to contain all four major essays and the draft work. If one or more of the essays did not receive a passing grade, it is unlikely that the portfolio would pass portfolio review. Portfolios go in a two pocket folder.

13. How do I prepare for Outcomes Assessment?The course work your teacher assigns will help prepare you. Practice revision and revision strategies. Your instructor may bring in past Outcomes Assessment prompts for you to look at and use for practice.

14. What if I have more questions?Your instructors will be happy to answer questions about Outcomes Assessment throughout the semester.