Student Writing Learning Outcomes And
Guidelines For Assessment

 

Introduction

The following description of successful writing is intended to be useful for both students and faculty.  It provides students with a general sense of what outcomes faculty expect to see in successful college writing.  Since each discipline has its own particular conventions and expectations, faculty are encouraged to engage in conversations that will help them to adapt these general guidelines to their specific discipline, their individual classes, and their unique writing assignments.  Below are general descriptions of the components of college writing as well as the particular criteria to be assessed within each component.

Content
Successful writing addresses the assignment completely within the rhetorical context created by the assignment and in relation to the writer’s intended audience.  The essay has a sustained central idea that serves as a framework for presenting the necessary and appropriate information.

  • The writing meets the criteria of the assignment and audience.
  • The writing contains all necessary information as related to the assignment.
  • The writing demonstrates knowledge of the topic and reveals evidence of critical and creative thinking.
  • The writing contains an identifiable, central focus.

Development and Organization
Successful writing has an identifiable organizational structure that convincingly presents the appropriate supportive evidence necessary to achieve the writing’s purpose.   Ideas are fully developed within a structure that proceeds from an explicit thesis or central focus and uses expected structural devices that move the reader from section to section within the text.

  • The writing fully develops each idea in a clear, logical sequence and, when appropriate, offers evidence supporting the thesis or central focus.
  • The writing effectively uses transitions to connect sentences and paragraphs.
  • The writing uses credible sources effectively and with proper citations.
  • The writing demonstrates an ability to share ideas or information in the author’s own words.

Format, Style, and Mechanics
Successful writing communicates its purpose in a voice that is appropriate to the academic context. It does so by means of accurate format or visual design, language that does not impede readers’ understanding, and details of spelling and mechanics that demonstrate an understanding of conventionally correct English.

  • The writing is in a format or visual design that is appropriate for the assignment.
  • The writing follows a style – MLA, APA, Chicago/Turabian etc. − that is appropriate for the assignment.
  • The writing contains few if any errors of spelling, syntax, word usage or punctuation.
  • The writer strives to achieve an original voice where appropriate.