BREADTH MAJOR LEARNING OUTCOMES (MLOs)

MLO 8: Creative Writing and Social Action Assessment Standards
(A level of 3 is necessary to fulfill the built-in assessment).

CREATIVE NON-FICTION
(NARRATIVE, LIFE-STORY, PERSONAL ESSAY):

5. Exemplary.
The creative non-fiction writing meets all of the criteria stated above. The work establishes a resonant dramatic situation and an engaging narrative, around a lived experience. Characters are fully developed. Extensive research has been done and facts are accurate. The voice is authentic. The point of view is cleverly chosen to relate the narrative. Setting is described to evoke a strong sense of place. The story employs an excellent use of sensory details and concrete language to develop narrative and characters. It excludes unnecessary details and inconsistencies. It effectively uses a range of strategies such as dialogue, dramatic tension, rhythm, and figurative language. The writing addresses, excellently, the social, cultural, historical or political contexts out of which the social action art emerges. It demonstrates, profoundly, an informed and ethical reflection of a significant social issue. The work has been presented to a diverse audience and engaged the interests and needs of that audience. Errors in spelling, punctuation, mechanics, and usage are rare.

4. Very Good
The creative non-fiction writing meets all of the criteria stated above. The work establishes a clear dramatic situation and an interesting narrative. Characters are developed fairly completely. Substantial research has been done and facts are accurate. The voice is fairly authentic. The point of view is cleverly chosen to relate the narrative, but may be inconsistent at times. Setting is generally described to evoke an adequate sense of place. The writing employs some sensory details and some concrete language. There are few unrelated details and inconsistencies. Dialogue, dramatic tension, rhythm, figurative language are adequately employed. The writing addresses, fairly completely, the social, cultural, historical or political contexts out of which the social action art emerges. It demonstrates, fairly well, an informed and ethical reflection of a significant social issue. The work has been presented to a diverse audience and engaged the interests and needs of that audience. Errors in spelling, punctuation, mechanics, and usage do not impede understanding.

3. Satisfactory
The creative non-fiction writing meets most of the criteria stated above. A basic dramatic situation and narrative exist in the work. Characters, setting, voice, and point of view are discernible. Research has been done but facts are occasionally inconsistent. Occasional sensory details and concrete language exist. Many unnecessary details and inconsistencies. Dialogue, dramatic tension, rhythm, and figurative language need further crafting. The writing is moving toward addressing the social, cultural, historical or political contexts out of which the social action art emerges. Some evidence exists of an informed and ethical reflection of the significant social issue. The writing has been presented to a diverse audience. Errors in spelling, punctuation, mechanics, and usage do not impede understanding.

2. Needs Improvement
The creative non-fiction writing meets some of the criteria stated above. The work may need a clear dramatic situation and more adequate narrative. Characters may need more development. The work may need more research and many facts may need to be reconsidered. The voice may need more authenticity. The point of view chosen to relate the story requires consistency. Setting requires more development. An awareness of sensory details and concrete language may be necessary. Dialogue, dramatic tension, rhythm, and figurative language may need work. The writing may need to address the social, cultural, historical or political contexts out of which the social action art emerges. The work needs to demonstrate a more informed and ethical reflection of the significant social issue. The creative non-fiction writing may need to be presented to a diverse audience. Errors in spelling, punctuation, mechanics, and usage impede understanding.

1. Needs Considerable Improvement
The creative non-fiction writing meets few of the criteria stated above. The characters, narrative, setting, voice, and point of view needs development. The work needs more research and the facts need to be reconsidered. An awareness of sensory details and concrete language is necessary. Dialogue, dramatic tension, rhythm, sensory details, concrete and figurative language needs work. The writing needs to address the social, cultural, historical or political contexts out of which the social action art emerges. The work needs to demonstrate a more informed and ethical reflection of the significant social issue. The creative non-fiction writing needs to be presented to a diverse audience. Errors in spelling, punctuation, mechanics, and usage impede understanding.